U.S. Ground Troops May Join the Fight Against Islamic State, Says General Dempsey

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday, that U.S. ground troops may become directly involved in the fight against the Islamic State militants if Obama's current strategy fails.

Dempsey's statement comes in the midst of Obama's declaration that the U.S. would not deploy combat troops in the Middle East.

"My view at this point is that [the current coalition fighting ISIL] is the appropriate way forward," said Dempsey "... But if it fails to be true, and if there are threats to the United States, then I of course would go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of US military ground forces." , reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

He also said that under certain situations US advisers may have to accompany the Iraqi troops.

"To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific ISIL targets, I will recommend that to the president," Dempsey declared in a testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee. , reports the Associated Press.

Dempsey also said that Obama's policy of not using ground forces in a combat role was less ironclad than what the president declared publicly.

"At this point, his stated policy is we will not have US ground forces in direct combat," Dempsey said, to include spotting for US air strikes. "But he has told me as well to come back to him on a case-by-case basis," reports The Guardian.

However, the White House repeated that Obama would not deploy ground troops in a combat role in Iraq or Syria.

White House press secretary, Josh Earnest said that Dempsey made the comments referring to a hypothetical scenario. He also said that it was the responsibility of the military to be prepared for all sorts of emergencies, reports Reuters.