ISLAMIC STATE CRISIS: US TO SEND 1,500 MORE TROOPS TO IRAQ (STA BREAKING NEWS and ARCHIVES)

by STANews , Saturday, November 08, 2014, 11:23

The US troops will have a non-combat role and will focus on training and advising the Iraqi army

The US is to send 1,500 more non-combat troops to Iraq to boost Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State (IS) militants, nearly doubling the US presence.

The Pentagon said the troops would train and assist Iraqi forces.

President Barack Obama authorised the deployment following a request from Iraq's government, the Pentagon added.

IS militants control large areas of Iraq and Syria but have been targeted by hundreds of air strikes by a US-led coalition since August.

The 1,500 additional US troops will join the 1,600 military advisers that are already in Iraq to assist the country's army.

A statement from the Pentagon said the troops would be establishing several sites to train nine Iraqi army and three Kurdish Peshmerga brigades.

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29961084