Obama to deploy 450 additional troops to train Iraqi forces

WASHINGTON, June 10 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday the deployment of up to 450 additional troops to "train and advise" Iraqi security forces fighting the Islamic State.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi requested the additional forces, which will be deployed to the Taqaddum military base in Anbar province, where Ramadi, the capital, was captured by the Islamic State in May.

"These new advisors will work to build capacity of Iraqi forces, including local tribal fighters, to improve their ability to plan, lead, and conduct operations against [the Islamic State] in eastern Anbar under the command of the Prime Minister," according to a statement by The White House. "This effort will complement the ‎efforts of U.S. and coalition trainers at the four previously-established training sites in Al-Asad, Besmaya, Erbil, and Taji, where over 9,000 Iraqi troops have already been trained, with an additional 3,000 currently in training."

"These additional U.S. troops will not serve in a combat role and will augment the 3,100 U.S. troops who have already deployed to Iraq," the statement said.

Another option being considered by the White House would allow the United States to directly train, but not arm, Sunni tribes, a senior U.S. official told CNN.

There are currently 3,050 U.S. military personnel in Iraq, 2,250 of which support Iraqi security forces, 800 protect U.S. personnel and facilities, 450 train Iraqi troops and 200 advise and assist.

"Where we've trained Iraqi forces directly and equipped them and we have a train-and-assist posture, they operate effectively," Obama said Monday. "Where we haven't, morale, lack of equipment, etc., may undermine the effectiveness of Iraqi security forces."

The Islamic State has been a formidable opponent through its insurgency against the Iraqi military. Last June, the IS began a massive offensive campaign, gaining vast territory, including Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.

Since then, Iraqi forces made significant gains against the IS, but the militant Islamists launched a successful attack and capture of the city of Ramadi last month, about 80 miles west of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.