War on terror

USAF Secretary: War on IS Needs 'Boots On Ground'

The air campaign against the Islamic State group has made progress in degrading the jihadist organization but will not be enough without local boots on the ground, the US Air Force secretary said on Tuesday.

The comments from Deborah Lee James come just days after Pentagon chief Ash Carter raised the possibility of deploying additional US special operations forces personnel to Syria if more partners can be found among local forces on the ground.

"Air power is extremely important. It can do a lot but it can't do everything," James said.

"Ultimately it cannot occupy territory and very importantly it cannot govern territory," she told reporters at the Dubai Airshow.