U.S. Says Iraq Rescue Less Likely After Troops Visit Scene
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U.S. troops found fewer trapped civilians on a mountain in northern Iraq than expected, making it “far less likely” that the U.S. will conduct a rescue operation, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said.
A team of about 20, including U.S. Army special forces, spent 24 hours on Mount Sinjar, where some administration officials had said they thought at least 20,000 people, mainly minority Yezidis, were stranded and at risk of dying from dehydration and hunger after fleeing Islamic State militants.