Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Sept. 16, 2014 in Washington, DC.

The U.S. military campaign against the Islamist of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will not be “shock and awe” where overwhelming power is used to paralyze the enemy, the top U.S. military officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

“We will be prepared to strike ISIL targets in Syria that degrade ISIL’s capabilities,” General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, using an acronym for the militant group.

“This won’t look like a ‘shock and awe’ campaign because that’s simply not how ISIL is organized. But it will be a persistent and sustainable campaign.”

Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel told the Senate committee hearing that the planned U.S. air strikes will target extremist sanctuaries, command centers and logistic networks, Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel told lawmakers Tuesday.

“This plan includes targeted actions against ISIL safe havens in Syria — including its command and control, logistics capabilities, and infrastructure,” Hagel said.

General Dempsey raised the possibility that American troops serving as advisers to Iraqi forces eventually could be sent on combat missions if it became necessary.

“To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisors should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific ISIL targets, I will recommend that to the president,” he said.

 
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