US plans to send special ops force to Iraq

War-weary nation stands divided about prospect of greater military involvement in Middle East

For the first time in the year-plus fight against Islamic State militants, the United States is putting combat troops on the ground in a more permanent role in Iraq and Syria.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Congress on Tuesday that the US military will deploy a new special operations force to Iraq to step up the fight against IS militants, who are unleashing violence and are determined to hold territory they have seized in Iraq and Syria. President Barack Obama previously announced he was sending fewer than 50 special operations forces to Syria.