Special to WorldTribune.com

Air strikes alone are not enough to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and the United States is “looking to do more,” U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Nov. 7.

“If you say, is it enough? I don’t think it’s enough,” Carter said during a defense forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

President Barack Obama’s strategy for the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIL has done little to slow the terror group’s momentum.

More than a year into the U.S. effort, ISIL continues to control large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and has gained a foothold in North Africa.

“Yes, we are willing to do more,” Carter said. “As we identify opportunities to do more, you will see us doing more. And we need to do more, much more than air strikes.”

Last week, Obama for the first time authorized U.S. boots on the ground in Syria, approving the deployment of fewer than 50 U.S. special operations troops to train and assist rebel forces.

“We can defeat ISIL, but it’s keeping them defeated that is the hard part,” Carter said.

The Obama administration changed its strategy after shuttering the failed $500 million program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels.

“Finding those capable and motivated and willing forces turns out to be difficult,” Carter said. “And so, as we identify them and strengthen them, we will do more. We have to support capable and motivated forces.”

  Ashton Carter, Defense chief concedes: U.S. needs ‘much more than air strikes’ to defeat ISIL, special operations forces to Syria, WorldTribune.com