Kerry: Iraq was "briefed" of US decision to deploy forces Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraq did not need foreign ground troops to defeat the Islamic State group, after Washington announced it would deploy special forces to fight the jihadists. But on Wednesday, Kerry said in Brussels that "the government of Iraq was of course briefed in advance of Secretary Carter’s announcement." SOUNDBITES of John Kerry // COMPLEMENTARY IMAGES ON VIDEO VID826712_EN