Decapitation

DoD to deploy ‘targeting force’ to hunt down ISIS leaders

Carter said much of that progress is due to better intelligence from U.S. forces in the region, which have opened the way for improved attacks on IS supply lines and leadership sites. He also said the American presence there has attracted new allies in both countries, both connected to and separate from the Iraqi government.

The White House had already announced plans to put small numbers of U.S. special operations personnel in Syria to coordinate with those local forces. On Tuesday, Carter said he is also deploying a "specialized expeditionary targeting force" to assist Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces fighting the Islamic State group.