Arizona Sen. John McCain has called for more ground troops to battle Islamic State terrorists. He says that the bombing campaign has not worked.

"For months we've been bombing (Syrian border town) Kobane, and we still haven't driven [them] out," McCain told reporters in Jerusalem according to the Washington Times.

"Since the air campaign started ... [the Islamic State] has increased their size and areas of control," he said. "The reality is, we need more boots on the ground. ... We need intelligence. We need Special Forces and we can't treat Iraq and Syria as different battlegrounds because it's the same enemy."

McCain also called for a no-fly zone above the IS-controlled areas.

"We are going to have to have an aircraft exclusionary zone which provides a buffer in order for us to not only train and equip [rebels] but [also] to take care of refugees," he said.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee along with other senators is on a tour of the Middle East. They met with President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday, according to the Jerusalem Post.

"We come as friends and supporters of Israel -- Republicans and Democrats -- in a common bond of support for Israel and the whole region," McCain said, stressing the importance of Israel's relations with the United States. "Your support is not just words. You have supported an upgrade in the cooperation between our countries ... including with Iron Dome -- which has saved so many lives."

In March last year, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee called on the U.S. Senate to pass bipartisan sanctions against Iran. McCain said that America must keep the pressure on so that Iran realizes that unless it compromises, even more crippling sanctions will be in store.

McCain is also known to be a great friend of Israel and one who will do everything in his power to prevent another Holocaust. He has visited Israel on numerous occasions, the first time close to 35 years ago, when he was still a captain in the U.S. Navy.

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