Us Sends 350 More Troops To Protect Embassy In Baghdad

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) President Barack Obama on Tuesday authorized the deployment of approximately 350 additional troops to “to protect diplomatic facilities and personnel in Baghdad, Iraq,” the White House said.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest made clear that the additional troops would “not serve in a combat role.”

Obama first announced he was  sending as many as 275 troops into Iraq in late June, with 200 providing security at the embassy, support facilities, and Baghdad’s airport. On June 30, he notified Congress he was sending an additional 200 troops to provide additional support.

“The President has made clear his commitment to doing whatever is required to provide the necessary security for U.S. personnel and facilities around the world,” Earnest said in the statement on Tuesday. “The request he approved today will allow some previously deployed military personnel to depart Iraq, while at the same time providing a more robust, sustainable security force for our personnel and facilities in Baghdad.”

This latest increase, whitch comes the same day militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS or ISIL) murdered a second American journalist, pegs the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq at nearly 1,500, according to ABC News’ Jon Williams.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said approximately 820 U.S. troops will now be responsible for “augmenting diplomatic security in Iraq.” The new forces will include a headquarters element, medical personnel, associated helicopters, and an air-liaison team, he said.

“The Department of Defense will continue to plan and prepare further military options should they become necessary, and we will remain ready to protect our diplomats, our citizens, and our interests in Iraq, while we continue to work with the Iraqi government to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” Kirby said.

Here’s the full statement from the White House:

Today, the President authorized the Department of Defense to fulfill a Department of State request for approximately 350 additional U.S. military personnel to protect our diplomatic facilities and personnel in Baghdad, Iraq.  This action was taken at the recommendation of the Department of Defense after an extensive interagency review, and is part of the President’s commitment to protect our personnel and facilities in Iraq as we continue to support the Government of Iraq in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).  These additional forces will not serve in a combat role. 

The President has made clear his commitment to doing whatever is required to provide the necessary security for U.S. personnel and facilities around the world.  The request he approved today will allow some previously deployed military personnel to depart Iraq, while at the same time providing a more robust, sustainable security force for our personnel and facilities in Baghdad. 

In addition to our efforts to protect our personnel, we will continue to support the Government of Iraq’s efforts to counter ISIL, which poses a threat not only to Iraq, but to the broader Middle East and U.S. personnel and interests in the region.  The President will be consulting this week with NATO allies regarding additional actions to take against ISIL and to develop a broad-based international coalition to implement a comprehensive strategy to protect our people and to support our partners in the fight against ISIL.  As part of this effort, Secretary Kerry, Secretary Hagel, and President Obama’s counterterrorism advisor, Lisa Monaco, will be traveling separately to the region in the near-term to build a stronger regional partnership. /End/