BAGHDAD, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Britain will deploy additional troops to Iraq in the coming weeks to help train local forces in their efforts to combat the Islamic State.
British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced Wednesday during a visit to Baghdad that the mission would be limited to military training, and would not lead to the deployment of combat troops.
Fallon declined to give specifics on the expected number of trainers to be deployed.
"I'm here to evaluate training needs and there are areas of expertise, particularly in counter-IED [improvised explosive devices] and roadside car bombs, where we can help from our experience in Afghanistan," Fallon told the BBC from Baghdad.
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According to a read-out from the U.K. Ministry of Defense, Fallon met Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi and National Security Advisor Fallah al Fayyad in Baghdad before traveling north to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, where he met with Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani and Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
In those meetings Fallon discussed Britain's assistance to Iraq to help combat IS, also known as ISIL.
" The U.K., as part of the international coalition, is already taking part in airstrikes across Iraq and carrying out training for Kurdish forces in the north of the country. ...
"It is right that we do more to help Iraqi forces take the fight to ISIL on the ground which is why the U.K. is offering the further training, support and assistance I have outlined today."
British forces were withdrawn from Iraq in 2011.
