The US has indicated a shift in its campaign against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria, including the use of direct ground raids, the BBC reports.
Defence Secretary Ash Carter said there would also be more air strikes against “high-value targets”.
Separately, the US says Iran is being invited for the first time to international talks over Syria’s war.
“We won’t hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL or conducting such missions directly, whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground,” Mr Carter said, using an alternative acronym for IS.
“We expect to intensify our air campaign, including with additional US and coalition aircraft, to target ISIL with a higher and heavier rate of strikes,” he said.
“This will include more strikes against ISIL high-value targets as our intelligence improves.”
