ISIS War: US to Ship Thousands of M-16 Rifles, Counter-IED Equipment to Iraq, ISIS Praises 'Lions' in Paris Shooting

The United States is planning to send 10,000 M-16 rifles and 12,000 sets of Kevlar helmets, body armor, medical kits, and counter-IED equipment to Iraq in the coming weeks. The shipment of weapons and supplies is expected to aid in a major military offensive against ISIS militants.

According to Defense News, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones revealed that the counter-IED technology, specifically the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected or MRAP vehicles shipped to the region in December, will play a significant role holding back the advances of ISIS. Since Iraqi security forces were always at risk to roadside and car bombs, the MRAP vehicles can provide increased protection against such threats.

The U.S. currently has 2,100 troops helping to train Iraqi government troops. The number is expected to increase to 3,000 after President Barack Obama ordered the deployment of more troops last November.

Mr Obama was described by Senator John McCain as "delusional" for thinking the U.S. will be successful in recruiting Syrians to fight against ISIS. The U.S. senator told Fox News that he has been repeatedly calling for the U.S. to take action in Syria. He said Mr Obama and Washington have "ignored reality" and the fact that they treat ISIS differently in Iraq and Syria.

McCain said there are about 3,000 "advisors" who are caught between ISIS and Iraq fighters in an airbase outside of Baghdad. He called for more forward air controllers and trainers since they were not advancing against ISIS.

Meanwhile, ISIS has praised the "lions of Islam" for the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris. The group lauded the gunmen in a statement for taking "revenge on the heretics" in the name of the prophet. Just moments before the deadly attack, a cartoon mocking ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was posted on Twitter, TVNZ reported.

The satirical magazine has published cartoons of the Muslim prophet Mohammed in 2012. France had to close its embassies temporarily for fear of retaliation. According to ISIS, the gunmen in Paris were their "lions" in the initial phase of terror against the West. ISIS warned that there will be others like them.

The gunmen shot 12 people dead inside the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The French government has officially announced a three-day mourning period following the attack.

Contact email: r.su@ibtimes.com.au