Some Democrats immediately raised concerns with a strategy they fear will inevitably lead to an escalation of the US troop presence. Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., warned of „endless war“ as the first reports began to float new proposals to embed US troops with Iraqi security forces and deploy special forces to Syria.

„Today’s report that the Pentagon is considering embedding some US troops with Iraqi forces as part of the war against ISIS — bringing American forces to the front lines — is extremely concerning,“ McGovern said in a statement the evening of Oct. 26. „We have been repeatedly reassured that the US would not have a combat role in the war against ISIS, but this suggests just the opposite.“

A McGovern aide told Al-Monitor that lawmakers are keeping a close watch on any changes in US posture. President Barack Obama withdrew the last combat troops from Iraq in 2011, fulfilling a campaign promise, but has since sent back about 3,500 service members to help train the Iraqi army and assorted militias fighting IS.