IS had overrun Iraqi forces to come within 15 miles of Baghdad airport

The Islamic State (IS) militants managed to overrun Iraqi forces to reach within 15 miles of the Baghdad airport, a top US military leader said.

According to FOX News, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, told ABC's "This Week" that Apache helicopters were for the first time called in to stop the extremists' "straight shot to the airport."

Dempsey said that the military was not going to allow that to happen, adding that there may come a time when he might recommend that American advisers accompany Iraqi troops against Islamic State targets.

He said that while the US and mostly Iraqis had successfully kept the Islamic State out of range, there will be days when they use indirect fire into Baghdad.

National Security Adviser Susan Rice said that the US still stood by its decision to not send ground troops to "degrade and destroy" IS, and added that the troops were in the early stages as what President Barack Obama said was a long-term effort.

She reiterated that the US strategy was to build up the Iraqi army and support the efforts of the "moderate opposition" to the Syrian regime that is also trying to defeat IS, the report said.