(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The US Department of Defense is preparing to dispatch 615 more U.S. troops to Iraq to help government forces oust ISIS from the city of Mosul, the White House announced Wednesday.
The soldiers will provide logistics support for the Iraqi forces and not spearhead the attack, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Wednesday. The troops, who will deploy in the coming weeks, will have a supporting role, helping with logistics and providing advice.
These are military forces that will be deployed to intensify the strategy that's in place, to support Iraqi forces as they prepare for an offensive against...Mosul," Earnest said.
"American President Barack Obama was consulted on a request from the Iraqi government for a final increase in the number of trainers and advisers under the umbrella of the international coalition in Iraq," the Iraqi leader said in a statement Wednesday obtained by Reuters.
Currently there are 4,647 U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
In July, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced the Pentagon would send an additional 560 troops to Iraq over the course of several weeks.
The latest troop deployment comes a week after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met privately with US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
There are also dozens of US special operations forces in Syria, who are working closely with a collection of various militant groups that are trying to topple the legitimate government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The move to increase the number of US troops comes despite growing concerns among the Iraqi public that the US is planning to use the battle against Daesh as a pretext to return to Iraq.
US forces invaded Iraq in 2003 to topple long-time dictator Saddam Hussein but the large-scale military operation deteriorated security in the Arab country and gave birth to various militant groups like Daesh.
Daesh terrorists have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq and Syria, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
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source : NBC
Thursday
29 September 2016
12:31:03 PM
782204
The US Department of Defense is preparing to dispatch 615 more U.S. troops to Iraq to help government forces oust ISIS from the city of Mosul, the White House announced Wednesday.