http://thehill.com/policy/defense/276652-obama-to-send-more-troops-bring-them-closer-to-front-lines-in-iraq By Kristina Wong - 04/18/16 10:31 AM ED
The U.S. has agreed to send more than 200 additional U.S. troops to Iraq to support Baghdad's offensive to re-capture the city of Mosul, U.S. defense officials said Monday.
In addition, advise and assist teams made up of a dozen troops each would embed with Iraqi brigades as well as battalions — putting them closer to the fight than before. The teams will have security forces with them, according to the officials.
The decision to send an additional 217 forces, first reported by the Associated Press, will increase the authorized troop level in Iraq from 3,870 to 4,087. The administration is also sending Apache helicopters to Iraq for the first time since the United States pulled troops from the country after the war.
The decision comes after weeks of discussions with U.S. commanders in Iraq and Iraqi officials.
Most of the additional troops would be Army special forces. The remainder would include trainers, security forces for the advisers and maintenance crews for the Apaches.
The new moves come as Obama seeks to help Iraqi forces retake the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria strongholds of Mosul and Raqqa by the end of this year.
