(MENAFN- QNA) US President Barack Obama has authorized sending 350 more military personnel to Iraq to protect US facilities and personnel in Baghdad, the White House said Wednesday.
The moves come at the recommendation of the Defense Department, but the additional personnel will not be serving in a combat role, the White House said in a statement. Most are from the Army and some are Marines, the Pentagon said in another statement.
The president has made clear his commitment to doing whatever is required to provide the necessary security for US personnel and facilities around the world, according to CBS News.
The request Obama approved today will allow some previously deployed military personnel to depart Iraq, while at the same time providing a more robust, sustainable security force for US personnel and facilities in Baghdad.
Approximately 820 troops have now been assigned to augment diplomatic security in Iraq, said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
Obama left Tuesday for a NATO summit in Wales that is expected to address both the situation in Ukraine and the threat posed by ISIS. He will stop first in the former Soviet republic of Estonia.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.