US military mission to combat ISIS in Iraq focuses on 'defeating its ideology': Pentagon

The Pentagon has sought to downplay the United States military's role in combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by saying that America's game plan focuses on defeating the militant organization by "defeating its ideology."

Rear Adm. John Kirby, spokesman for Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, said on Friday that the ground fighting has to be done by "indigenous forces." He ruled out the possibility of U.S. troops going into the field on combat missions to directly aid the Iraqi and Kurdish forces, reported The Washington Times.

He also said that American service members will not go into the field to spot targets for air strikes and added that the military is just one of the components of the plan.

Kirby said that the Iraqi Security Forces who ran away from the ISIS invaders have been reshuffled with the help of U.S. military advisers in Baghdad and are much more capable.

However, he did add that the U.S. air campaign against the militant group will become "more aggressive." America has already conducted 100 air strikes in Iraq but they have been limited to protecting civilians, Americans and defending humanitarian missions.

The report quoted Kirby as stating earlier that 475 additional U.S. military personnel are being sent to Iraq as the U.S. mission in Iraq changes from assessment to advise and assist.