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U.S. Will Deploy 560 Troops to Iraq to Help Retake Mosul From ISIS U.S. Will Deploy 560 Troops to Iraq to Help Retake Mosul From ISIS
(about 1 hour later)
BAGHDAD — President Obama will deploy 560 troops to Iraq to help retake Mosul, the largest city controlled by the Islamic State, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced on Monday. It is the latest escalation of the United States’ role in the war here by Mr. Obama, who ran for office on a pledge to end America’s involvement in the conflict.BAGHDAD — President Obama will deploy 560 troops to Iraq to help retake Mosul, the largest city controlled by the Islamic State, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced on Monday. It is the latest escalation of the United States’ role in the war here by Mr. Obama, who ran for office on a pledge to end America’s involvement in the conflict.
The additional troops will bring the official number of American service members deployed in Iraq to 4,647. Many will be based at an airfield about 40 miles south of Mosul that was seized by the Iraqis on Saturday.The additional troops will bring the official number of American service members deployed in Iraq to 4,647. Many will be based at an airfield about 40 miles south of Mosul that was seized by the Iraqis on Saturday.
“This contingent will help the Iraqis with a logistical springboard for their offensive in Mosul,” Mr. Carter said. “We need to move to this place to be as close to the fighting as we have been,” said Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland, the commander of American forces in Iraq.
American commanders plan to use the base, Qayyarah West Airfield, as a staging area to provide logistical support to Iraqi forces as they move toward Mosul. Some of the troops specialize in infrastructure support like building bridges, which the Iraqis will need for the assault on Mosul because the Islamic State has destroyed many around the city. The Islamic State seized Mosul in June 2014.American commanders plan to use the base, Qayyarah West Airfield, as a staging area to provide logistical support to Iraqi forces as they move toward Mosul. Some of the troops specialize in infrastructure support like building bridges, which the Iraqis will need for the assault on Mosul because the Islamic State has destroyed many around the city. The Islamic State seized Mosul in June 2014.
Mr. Carter made the announcement while addressing troops at the international airport in Baghdad. Earlier in the day, Mr. Carter met with Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.Mr. Carter made the announcement while addressing troops at the international airport in Baghdad. Earlier in the day, Mr. Carter met with Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.
“The point of seizing that airfield is to be able to establish a logistics and air hub in the immediate vicinity of Mosul under the control of the Iraqi security forces,” Mr. Carter said. Makhmour, a base in northern Iraq that the Iraqi military retook several months ago, will also be used as a staging ground for the assault on Mosul, he said. The Iraqi Army has been troubled by equipment, logistics and other problems, and it was stretched last month as it fought to retake the western city of Falluja from the Islamic State. American commanders have been particularly concerned about the Iraqis’ ability to move troops, supplies and equipment for the invasion of Mosul because it is 250 miles from the military’s major hubs in the Baghdad area.
“The point of seizing that airfield is to be able to establish a logistics and air hub in the immediate vicinity of Mosul under the control of the Iraqi security forces,” Mr. Carter said, describing the base as a “logistical springboard for their offensive in Mosul.”
General MacFarland said at a news conference that the additional forces would be used to expand operational capabilities at the airfield. “We have to bring in a wide array of capabilities to make those fully functional,” General MacFarland said. The troops are expected to arrive at the airfield in the coming weeks.
The escalation by Mr. Obama comes two months after he decided to send American military advisers closer to the front lines of the conflict, allowing them to work with smaller units of Iraqi forces. As part of that announcement, Mr. Obama deployed an additional 217 troops to Iraq.The escalation by Mr. Obama comes two months after he decided to send American military advisers closer to the front lines of the conflict, allowing them to work with smaller units of Iraqi forces. As part of that announcement, Mr. Obama deployed an additional 217 troops to Iraq.
The Iraqi Army has been troubled by equipment, logistics and other problems, and it was stretched last month as it fought to retake the western city of Falluja from the Islamic State.
Although the official number of United States troops will rise to 4,647, that figure understates the actual number of service members in Iraq. The Pentagon uses a system for counting troops that excludes certain service members who are supposed to be stationed in the country for less than four months, and for commandos. Defense Department officials have said that there are probably more than 5,000 Americans presently in Iraq.Although the official number of United States troops will rise to 4,647, that figure understates the actual number of service members in Iraq. The Pentagon uses a system for counting troops that excludes certain service members who are supposed to be stationed in the country for less than four months, and for commandos. Defense Department officials have said that there are probably more than 5,000 Americans presently in Iraq.