US President Barack Obama is to send more troops and military equipment to Iraq to take part in the US-led coalition against the so-called Islamic State group, bringing the total number in the region to 3,550.
In a statement issued by the White House today, Mr Obama said he had authorised an extra 450 military personnel to be deployed to the region, following a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
The new troops will not be serving in a combat role but will be training and advising the Iraqi Security Forces and will be based in the eastern Anbar province.
There are already 3,100 troops who have been deployed to Iraq.
The US says it has trained over 9,000 Iraqi troops so far, and that another 3,000 are currently in training.
According to the White House, these new troops will "work to build capacity of Iraqi forces, including local tribal fighters, to improve their ability to plan, lead, and conduct operations" against the IS group.
Mr Obama has also ordered the speedy delivery of "essential equipment and material" to Iraqi forces, including Peshmerga and tribal fighters.
He also today ordered his national security team to "intensify efforts" to stem the flow of foreign fighters to and from Iraq and Syria.
