The United States is sending another 300 troops to Iraq to beef up security at the U.S. Embassy and elsewhere in the Baghdad area to protect U.S. citizens and property, officials said Monday, according to Reuters.
That raises the total U.S. troop presence in Iraq to approximately 750, the Pentagon said, Reuters reported. The White House announced that President Barack Obama had directed that 200 troops be sent to reinforce security at the embassy, its support facilities and Baghdad International Airport.
The Pentagon said the 200 arrived Sunday and Monday, according to Reuters.
"The presence of these additional forces will help enable the embassy to continue its critical diplomatic mission and work with Iraq on challenges they are facing as they confront Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant," the Pentagon's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, said in a written statement, Reuters reported.
Obama notified House and Senate leaders in a letter on Monday of the additional forces heading to Iraq, according to Reuters.
Officials said they bring a detachment of helicopters and drone aircraft to improve airfield and travel route security in Baghdad, Reuters reported.
Obama has ruled out sending combat troops back into Iraq, according to Reuters. He said the extra troops will stay in Iraq until security improves so that the reinforcements are no longer needed.
Kirby said another 100 troops, who had been on standby in the Middle East since mid-June, also will move into Baghdad to provide security and logistics support, Reuters reported. That raises to about 470 the number of U.S. troops providing security in Baghdad.
Those forces are separate from the teams of up to 300 U.S. military advisers that Obama authorized for deployment to Iraq earlier in June, according to Reuters. Of those 300, about 180 had arrived as of Monday, the Pentagon said.
