The United States has agreed to
deploy more than 200 additional troops to Iraq and to send
Apache helicopters for the first time into the fight against the
Islamic State group in Iraq, the first major increase in U.S.
forces in nearly a year, US defense officials told the
Associated Press Monday.
The uptick in American fighting forces - and the decision to
put them closer to the front lines - is designed to help Iraqi
forces as they move to retake the key northern city of Mosul.
Speaking to reporters Monday in Baghdad, Defense Secretary
Ash Carter said the decision to move U.S. advisers to the Iraqi
brigade and battalion level will put them "closer to the
action," but he said they will have security forces with them
and the US will try to reduce the risks.
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