IRBIL, Iraq - A senior Iraqi Kurdish official says the Kurds are "alone" in their fight against the Islamic State extremist group and need more support, including foreign ground troops.

Fouad Hussein, chief of staff to Kurdish President Massoud Barzani, told The Associated Press that coalition airstrikes have been helpful, but "to finish ISIS...you need to finish it on the ground. And on the ground, we are most of the time alone. So we need partners."

When pressed, Hussein said the Kurdish regional government wants more foreign advisers, special forces, equipment and munitions.

On Friday, a Kurdish commander and several of his men were killed in a militant ambush in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. U.S. airstrikes began in the Kurdish region on Aug. 8. (AP)