US troops in Iraq’s Anbar as anti-ISIS campaign expands
14 Nov 2014 5:15 AM IST
A team of US troops was on the ground in Iraq’s Anbar province on Tuesday as Washington steps up efforts to help Iraqi forces battle the Islamic State jihadist group.
The Pentagon confirmed about 50 military personnel were at Al-Asad air base to assess it for the possible deployment of a larger contingent of advisers and trainers to assist Iraqi security forces.
President Barack Obama has announced plans to double the number of American troops in Iraq to up to 3,100 as US-led efforts against the jihadists enter what he called a ‘new phase’. Parts of mainly Sunni Anbar province have become a stronghold for ISIS, and some of Baghdad’s forces who were hard-pressed by the jihadists fell back to Al-Asad air base.
The sprawling desert airfield was hub for US forces from 2003 until 2011, when it was transferred back to Iraqi control.The 50 American military personnel assessing the base were not in evidence on Tuesday, but a slew of English-language signs and the colourful Easter decorations still hanging in a dining hall pointed to the former US presence.
The Pentagon confirmed about 50 military personnel were at Al-Asad air base to assess it for the possible deployment of a larger contingent of advisers and trainers to assist Iraqi security forces.
President Barack Obama has announced plans to double the number of American troops in Iraq to up to 3,100 as US-led efforts against the jihadists enter what he called a ‘new phase’. Parts of mainly Sunni Anbar province have become a stronghold for ISIS, and some of Baghdad’s forces who were hard-pressed by the jihadists fell back to Al-Asad air base.
The sprawling desert airfield was hub for US forces from 2003 until 2011, when it was transferred back to Iraqi control.The 50 American military personnel assessing the base were not in evidence on Tuesday, but a slew of English-language signs and the colourful Easter decorations still hanging in a dining hall pointed to the former US presence.
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