The Pentagon's top officials are warning U.S. troops will need to stay in Iraq long after ISIS falls, Military Times reported.
The warning Wednesday from both Defense Secretary James Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford in the Senate comes ahead of the third anniversary of the U.S. military campaign in Iraq; about 6,000 ground forces are currently in Iraq and Syria, while another 2,500 have been moved to Kuwait, the military news outlet report.
"I believe it's in our national interest that we keep Iraqi security forces in a position to keep our mutual enemies on their back foot," Mattis said, Military Times reported.
Dunford added "the Iraqi security forces will need that kind of support for years to come."
"I don't see any reason to pull out again and face the same lesson," Mattis said, even after the main campaign against ISIS ends, and Dunford warned the United States "needs to remain decisively engaged in Iraq and in the region," Military Times reported.
Both also were supportive of more U.S. assistance for rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure – expected to cost an estimated $50 billion, Military Times reported.
"It's going to be an international effort, it should not be carried fully by the American taxpayer," Mattis said. "But we should certainly be part of it."