President Barack Obama today ordered deployment of 450 additional US troops to Iraq to train and advice Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State militants, the White House said.
"To improve the capabilities and effectiveness of partners on the ground, the President authorised the deployment of up to 450 additional US military personnel to train, advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces at Taqaddum military base in eastern Anbar province," White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, said.
The US troops would not be in combat, Earnest stressed.
The President took the decision at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the White House said.
Currently there are some 3,100 US troops training Iraqi forces in Iraq.
In a conference call with reporters, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said the steps announced by Obama is very much aimed to reinforce those important elements of the strategy, strengthening Iraqi partners on the ground and supporting an inclusive approach to Iraqi politics and security.
These advisers or trainers, Rhodes said will give US a greater capacity to strengthen Iraqi forces, including, importantly, working with the local tribal fighters who are going to be essential to their efforts to conduct operations against ISIL and to try to push them out of areas that they have taken control of over the recent months.
"This is in addition to the ongoing efforts that the US and other coalition partners have to train Iraqis at four training sites across Iraq. These are not troops who will be serving in a combat role, but they will be supporting Iraqi forces on the ground who are in the fight," Rhodes said.
Obama also ordered "the expedited delivery of essential equipment and materiel" to Iraqi forces, including Peshmerga and tribal fighters operating under Iraqi command.
"This is being done in full coordination with the Iraqi Government and will enable us to better supply both the Peshmerga forces in the north and the tribal fighters operating under Iraqi command, as well, in Anbar Province," he said.
"We, together with our coalition partners, want to make sure that the Iraqis fighting ISIL on the ground have the equipment that they need to carry out that effort," Rhodes said.
"Furthermore, we've been very focused in those areas, where ISIL has been pushed back and making sure that there is an immediate capacity to provide assistance to local populations. We have seen ISIL lose substantial territory, for instance, in northern Iraq and in some areas around Baghdad," he added.
