Why the US is sending more troops to Iraq [View all]

[LuckyTheDog]

The United States will send 217 more troops, including special operations forces, to Iraq, the Associated Press reported Monday. The troops will serve as advisers and trainers to Iraqis as they struggle to fight the Islamic State group, aka ISIS.

This marks the first major increase in U.S. forces in nearly a year and will bring the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq to 4,087. The decision comes as the cash-strapped Iraqi forces are moving to retake the northern city of Mosul, which is seen as key to reclaiming control of the country.

The U.S. will also provide Apache attack helicopters and an additional Himars rocket system, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday during an unannounced visit to Baghdad. Carter’s stop in Iraq was part of a trip through the Middle East to ask U.S. allies for help with efforts to rebuild portions of Iraq that have been destroyed during the war against ISIS, NBC News reported.

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