Martin Dempsey

America’s top military leader arrived in Iraq on Saturday on a previously unannounced visit, his first since a U.S.-led coalition began launching airstrikes against the extremist Islamic State group.

The Pentagon warned Congress on Thursday that the long, drawn-out military campaign against Islamic State militants is just beginning and could expand to include modest numbers of U.S. forces fighting alongside Iraqi troops.

The barrage of U.S. cruise missiles last month aimed at a Syrian terroristcell killed just one or two key militants, according to American intelligence officials who say the group of veteran al-Qaeda fighters is still believed to be plotting attacks against U.S. and European targets.