(VOVworld) – Almost half of Iraq's army is incapable of working against Islamic State (IS) militants. General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Wednesday that 26 of Iraq’s 50 army brigades are capable of partnering with the US to fight the IS. The other 24 need to be partially rebuilt with US training and additional equipment. Dempsey said the 26 brigades, which are heavily weighted with Shiites, are a credible force to fight Sunni IS militants. He told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that US military power is unable to solve the problem of the IS's takeover of large swaths of northern and western Iraq. Dempsey suggested the solution begin with the formation of an Iraqi government that is able to treat Iraq’s Kurdish, Sunni, and Shiite populations equally.

Members of Iraqi security forces take their positions during a patrol looking for militants. (Photo: Reuters)

 
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi urged the international community on Wednesday to expand its campaign against the IS extremist group into Syria. The fight will never end unless IS militants are hit in Syria. Al-Abadi said this is the responsibility of the international community led by the US.