It's being called "a belated step forward."

The new Special Operations group headed to Iraq will conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and go after top Islamic State targets.

"When they go to bed at night, who is going to be coming in the window? The United States is and, I think, must lead in this fight, but we need others to go with us," U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said.

Carter says U.S. forces will more than likely be mixed with Kurdish fighters who are already battling ISIS. He didn't disclose the number of U.S. troops to be deployed.

"Throughout [our] own action and those of our coalition partners, the military campaign will destroy ISIL's leadership and forces, deprive it of resources and safe haven and mobility," Carter said. "All the while we seek to identify and then enable motivated local forces on the ground to expel ISIL from its territory, hold and govern it, and ensure that victory sticks."

The move comes as the nation's top military officer directly contradicts remarks made by President Barack Obama last month that the U.S. has contained ISIS.

"Let me ask you this: have we currently contained ISIL? We have not contained ISIL. Have they been contained anytime since 2010? Tactically in areas they have been; strategically they have spread since 2010," he said.

And while ISIS is gaining territory in the Middle East, it's also gaining support internationally, including right here in America.

A new study by George Washington University says several thousand Americans regularly "consume Islamic State propaganda."

American ISIS supporters are predominantly active online. Twitter is the platform of choice, but ISIS supporters are using other social media as well just another sign of the growing danger from this radical Islamist movement.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Trump Celebrates 'Wonderful' Children With Down Syndrome: 'You Are Amazing'

ICYMI: Governor Abbott Signs Law Banning Sharia Compounds in Texas

Rubio Deports Suspected Muslim Brotherhood Leader

FBI's Big Sweep - 'We Rescued Thousands of Children': Five Days, Numerous Cities and One Big Bite Out of Crime

Mystery Billionaire Who Donated $130M to Pay Our Troops During Shutdown Has Been Identified

Largest Federal Workers Union Calls for an End to the Shutdown, Putting Pressure on Democrats

Egypt Joins Search for 13 Hostage Bodies, Including 2 Americans; Trump Issues Ultimatum

Prayer Alert: Hurricane Melissa Nears Jamaica as Category 5

Peace President Trump Signs Thailand-Cambodia Peace Deal He Helped Broker during Stop in Malaysia

'This Is a Historic First': Conservative Influencer Benny Johnson Says Trump Changed Charlie Kirk's Award to Include a Cross

White House Ballroom Construction: Presidents Have Made Changes for Decades

Judge Rules against Trump Admin Effort to Purge 'Woke' Books from Military Schools

Wow! Deadly Illegal Alien Truck Driver Failed CDL Test 10 Times

Trump: Tech Leaders, Mayor Persuaded Me to Hold Off Federal Force in San Francisco

FBI Director Kash Patel: We're 'On the Verge' of Exposing Antifa's Funding Network

Inflation Eases in September, Below Analysts' Expectations; But Shutdown Needs to End

Cultural Transformation Is Happening in America among the Youth

Stunning Archaeological Discovery That Offered Powerful Biblical Proof: Inside the Dead Sea Scrolls

Biblical Tax Notice: 1st-ever Assyrian Inscription Found Near Jerusalem's Temple Mount

'A Genocide Is Happening': 35 Christian Leaders Urge Trump to Declare Nigeria a CPC