Pentagon sending special force to conduct raids in Iraq, Syria: Carter

US defense chief Ash Carter said on Tuesday the Pentagon was deploying a specialised operations force which would "over time" conduct unilateral operations in Iraq and Syria as part of US military campaign against the Islamic State (IS).

"These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIL leaders," Xinhua quoted Carter as saying here.

He added that the creation of the specialised operations force was a result of "full coordination" with the Iraqi government.

"The raids in Iraq will be done at the invitation of the Iraqi government and focused on defending its borders and building the ISF's (Iraqi security forces) own capability," Carter said.

Meanwhile, Carter said, the force would also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations in Syria.

"That creates a virtuous cycle of better intelligence, which generates more targets, more raids, and more momentum," he said.