Iraq made no request for US forces: Minister

Iraq's foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari Thursday lashed out at US plans for the deployment of special forces to Iraq under the pretext of fighting the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

He said Baghdad has not asked the UN for any such troops.

"The message that Iraq has submitted to the UN Security Council never included a request for ground forces to enter Iraqi territory to conduct such operations," Ibrahim al-Jafaari said after meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Press TV reported.

The minister further said that Iraqi armed forces were making gains against the extremist militants on their own and were not in need of more troops.

"We have established a set of guidelines for the US-led coalition, including air support for Iraqi forces as well as providing training and intelligence," Jaafari said, emphasizing that "no country has regular armies or ground troops present in Iraq except for providing training and counselling."

Bishop, in turn, said Australia's role in Iraq was solely restricted to aerial support, training, advice and intelligence, adding: "We have not sought to expand our role to include combat troops."

During a press conference in the White House Wednesday, US President Barack Obama said the Washington-led coalition purportedly fighting against the IS terror group in Iraq and Syria is on the offensive and that he might use US special forces to eliminate the group.

His remarks came hours after he asked the Congress to authorise a three-year war against IS "and associated forces."

The US-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes on what they call IS positions since early August 2014 in Iraq.

IS bases have also been reportedly targeted inside Syria by the military alliance since late September last year.

However, the air raids have so far failed to dislodge the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi army, backed by pro-government tribes, Shia volunteers and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, has so far managed to gain significant ground in the fight against the terrorists, liberating many IS-held areas during their advances.