The United States will deploy additional forces to Iraq and make Apache attack helicopters available to support the country’s troops, US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter said Monday in Baghdad, according to AFP.
“We are going to bring in additional forces,” Carter said, adding that the Apaches will support Iraqi efforts to surround and eventually recapture Mosul from the Daesh militant group.
A senior US defence official said around 200 additional US military personnel would be deployed, pushing the total figure past 4,000.
Carter arrived in Baghdad from the United Arab Emirates, his first stop on a Gulf tour during which he will seek to shore up support for Iraq.
The United States heads an international coalition that is carrying out strikes against Daesh and also provides training and other assistance to forces fighting the militants in both Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
While most US forces in Iraq play advisory and support roles, Washington has also sent special forces to carry out raids against Daesh and US Marines have been deployed to provide artillery support for Iraqi troops.