Obama authorises additional 1,500 troops for Iraq

US President Barack Obama authorised another 1,500 troops for Iraq in non-combative role, to train, advise and assist the Iraqi security forces including the Kurdish Peshmarga forces, the White House has said.
"As a part of our strategy for strengthening partners on the ground, President Obama authorised the deployment of up to 1500 additional US military personnel in a non-combat role to train, advise, and assist Iraqi Security Forces, including Kurdish forces," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday.
The decisions were taken at the request of the Iraqi government and upon the recommendation of Secretary Hagel and his military commanders based upon the assessed needs of the Iraqi Security Forces, he said.

Earnest, however, clarified that the mission will not be an American show and will be undertaken in coordination with coalition partners.
It will be funded through the request for an 'Iraq Train and Equip Fund' that the Administration will submit to the Congress, he added.
The White House has also requested USD 5.6 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) activities to degrade and ultimately defeat Islamic State (IS) - including military operations as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

In recent weeks, Earnest said, the IS has suffered a series of setbacks in Iraq against the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces.
The US and coalition partners in the fight against IS rendered valuable support with air strikes, intelligence inputs and military advice.

"The request includes USD 1.6 billion to establish an Iraq Train and Equip Fund to develop and support Iraqi security forces including Kurdish forces, as they work with the Government of Iraq to confront IS," said Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
"This funding will help reconstitute the Iraqi Army and strengthen the capability and capacity of our Iraqi partners to go on the offensive against IS," he said.
Meanwhile, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said Secretary Hagel made the recommendation on the request of Iraqi government.
Crucial inputs were also sought from the US Central Command, overseeing operations in Iraq.

Earnest said the US and its coalition partners will continue to confront the threat of IS with strength and resolve.
He added that one of the pillars of the US' counter-IS strategy is to build the capacity of local forces to take the fight to IS strongholds.