Senators Invited to Classified Briefing on Iraq Situation

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Senators were invited to a classified briefing on the situation in Iraq on Tuesday night, during which intelligence experts presented a first estimate on the number of ISIS fighters.

Experts say the ISIS force includes approximately 3,000 fighters in Iraq and potentially 7,000 in Syria. During the briefing, Sen. Marco Rubio referred to the situation as “rapidly deteriorating,” and briefers deemed the crisis “urgent.”

A senior intelligence expert told ABC News that it remained to be seen whether ISIS can turn its victories in northern Iraq into strategic gains, noting that the group could be in danger of overstretching its capabilities.

Sen. Lindsay Graham offered hope of a new Iraqi government, perhaps coming sooner than later. He also said that “air strikes on the U.S. side, I think, will be eventually necessary because the airforce in Iraq is very small….they’re not really in the fight at all.”

Intelligence experts continue to keep an eye on ISIS after Syrian war planes struck ISIS military targets on Tuesday. Of note is the possibility that both Iran and Syria, countries which have faced U.S. criticism in recent years, may be coming to the defense of the Iraqi government against ISIS fighters.


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