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| Iraq conflict: US deploys 275 'military personnel' | Iraq conflict: US deploys 275 'military personnel' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Up to 275 US "military personnel" are being sent to Iraq to provide security for the US embassy in Baghdad and other personnel, the White House says. | Up to 275 US "military personnel" are being sent to Iraq to provide security for the US embassy in Baghdad and other personnel, the White House says. |
| The personnel will assist in the temporary relocation of some staff from the US embassy in Baghdad. | The personnel will assist in the temporary relocation of some staff from the US embassy in Baghdad. |
| Fighters from the militant Sunni group ISIS have seized a number of Iraqi towns and cities in the past week. | Fighters from the militant Sunni group ISIS have seized a number of Iraqi towns and cities in the past week. |
| Separately the US says it is willing to discuss with Iran what measures can halt the advance of the ISIS rebels. | Separately the US says it is willing to discuss with Iran what measures can halt the advance of the ISIS rebels. |
| However correspondents say that American officials have been quick to dismiss reports of military collaboration. | However correspondents say that American officials have been quick to dismiss reports of military collaboration. |
| Speaking on Monday to Yahoo News, Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington would "not rule out anything that would be constructive" while emphasising that any cooperation with Iran would be conducted on a "step-by-step" basis. | Speaking on Monday to Yahoo News, Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington would "not rule out anything that would be constructive" while emphasising that any cooperation with Iran would be conducted on a "step-by-step" basis. |
| The UN says that Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) rebels have carried out hundreds of summary executions. | The UN says that Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) rebels have carried out hundreds of summary executions. |
| Human rights chief Navi Pillay said that systematic killings in the north of the country "almost certainly amounted to war crimes". | Human rights chief Navi Pillay said that systematic killings in the north of the country "almost certainly amounted to war crimes". |
| Her remarks came as the militants, led by ISIS, were reported to have seized the strategic city of Tal Afar. | Her remarks came as the militants, led by ISIS, were reported to have seized the strategic city of Tal Afar. |
| The rebels occupied several key cities last week, but some towns were retaken. | The rebels occupied several key cities last week, but some towns were retaken. |
| Security in Baghdad has been stepped up after the insurgents threatened to march on the capital. | Security in Baghdad has been stepped up after the insurgents threatened to march on the capital. |
| Special forces mission | Special forces mission |
| The White House statement said that the main role of the 275 military personnel will be to help embassy staff to relocate to US consulates in Basra and Irbil. | The White House statement said that the main role of the 275 military personnel will be to help embassy staff to relocate to US consulates in Basra and Irbil. |
| It added that 100 personnel would provide airfield management and security. | It added that 100 personnel would provide airfield management and security. |
| "These US military personnel are entering Iraq with the consent of the government of Iraq," the statement said. | "These US military personnel are entering Iraq with the consent of the government of Iraq," the statement said. |
| "The US embassy in Baghdad remains open, and a substantial majority of the US embassy presence in Iraq will remain in place and the embassy will be fully equipped to carry out its national security mission." | "The US embassy in Baghdad remains open, and a substantial majority of the US embassy presence in Iraq will remain in place and the embassy will be fully equipped to carry out its national security mission." |
| American officials quoted by the AP news agency have said that there is also a possibility of a limited special forces mission being deployed to train and advise demoralised Iraqi troops, although such a move has not yet been been given the go-ahead. | American officials quoted by the AP news agency have said that there is also a possibility of a limited special forces mission being deployed to train and advise demoralised Iraqi troops, although such a move has not yet been been given the go-ahead. |
| Reports meanwhile have emerged that an army helicopter was shot down in fierce clashes near the city of Fallujah, located just 70km (45 miles) west of Baghdad. | Reports meanwhile have emerged that an army helicopter was shot down in fierce clashes near the city of Fallujah, located just 70km (45 miles) west of Baghdad. |
| Lightning advance | Lightning advance |
| Ms Pillay's comments came after Sunni militants posted photos online appearing to show fighters massacring Iraqi soldiers. | Ms Pillay's comments came after Sunni militants posted photos online appearing to show fighters massacring Iraqi soldiers. |
| In a video circulated online, ISIS fighters were also seen taunting captured troops with threats of decapitation. | In a video circulated online, ISIS fighters were also seen taunting captured troops with threats of decapitation. |
| The Iraqi military earlier said the pictures were real, but their authenticity has not been independently confirmed. The US condemned them as "horrifying". | The Iraqi military earlier said the pictures were real, but their authenticity has not been independently confirmed. The US condemned them as "horrifying". |
| The insurgents' lightning advance began last week with their capture of the cities of Mosul and Tikrit. | The insurgents' lightning advance began last week with their capture of the cities of Mosul and Tikrit. |
| Fighting in Tal Afar began on Sunday, with mortar shelling of some districts as the militants tried to enter the city in Nineveh province. | Fighting in Tal Afar began on Sunday, with mortar shelling of some districts as the militants tried to enter the city in Nineveh province. |
| Tal Afar, which has a mixed Sunni and Shia population, lies between Mosul and the Syrian border. | Tal Afar, which has a mixed Sunni and Shia population, lies between Mosul and the Syrian border. |
| The city of 200,000 people was taken just before dawn on Monday, Mayor Abdulal Abdoul told the Associated Press news agency. | The city of 200,000 people was taken just before dawn on Monday, Mayor Abdulal Abdoul told the Associated Press news agency. |
| Eyewitnesses said militants in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and flying black jihadist banners were roaming the streets as gunfire rang out. | Eyewitnesses said militants in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and flying black jihadist banners were roaming the streets as gunfire rang out. |
| But the government insists it still largely controls the town and that ISIS fighters would be swiftly dealt with, says the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq. | But the government insists it still largely controls the town and that ISIS fighters would be swiftly dealt with, says the BBC's Jim Muir in northern Iraq. |
| The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has told the BBC he doesn't believe the country will stay together. | The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has told the BBC he doesn't believe the country will stay together. |
| Natchervan Barzani said it would be impossible for Iraq to return to the situation that existed before Sunni militants took control of the city of Mosul last week. | Natchervan Barzani said it would be impossible for Iraq to return to the situation that existed before Sunni militants took control of the city of Mosul last week. |
| The government on Monday said it had "regained the initiative" against an offensive by Sunni rebels. | The government on Monday said it had "regained the initiative" against an offensive by Sunni rebels. |
| The defence ministry released footage on Monday which it said was of air strikes on ISIS targets north of Baghdad, including Mosul and Samarra provinces. | The defence ministry released footage on Monday which it said was of air strikes on ISIS targets north of Baghdad, including Mosul and Samarra provinces. |
| The US earlier announced it might use drone strikes to halt the ISIS advance. | The US earlier announced it might use drone strikes to halt the ISIS advance. |
| The USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier has already been deployed to the Gulf, accompanied by two more warships. | The USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier has already been deployed to the Gulf, accompanied by two more warships. |
| Britain reiterated on Monday that it had no plans for military intervention in Iraq. | Britain reiterated on Monday that it had no plans for military intervention in Iraq. |
| ISIS in Iraq | ISIS in Iraq |
| Iraq 'Massacre' photos: What we know | Iraq 'Massacre' photos: What we know |
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