Another 200 U.S. troops and Apache helicopters will be deployed to Iraq to fight ISIS


Published: 14:30 GMT, 18 April 2016 | Updated: 15:42 GMT, 18 April 2016


The U.S. has agreed to deploy more than 200 additional troops to Iraq and to send Apache helicopters for the first time into the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq, U.S. defense officials said Monday.

The decisions reflect weeks of discussions with commanders and Iraqi leaders, and a decision by President Barack Obama to increase the authorized troop level in Iraq by 217 forces — or from 3,870 to 4,087.

The new plan, expected for weeks, would mark the first major increase in U.S. forces in nearly a year. Last June the Obama administration announced that hundreds of troops would be deployed to help the Iraqis retake Ramadi — a goal they accomplished at the end of the year.

Of the additional troops, most would be Army special forces, who have been used all along to advise and assist the Iraqis. The remainder would include some trainers, security forces for the advisers, and more maintenance teams for the Apaches.

The increased military support comes as the U.S.-led coalition looks to better enable local Iraqi and Syrian forces to retake the key cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria.

The advise-and-assist teams — made up of about a dozen troops each — would embed with Iraqi brigades and battalions, putting them closer to the fight, and at greater risk from mortars and rocket fire. They would have security forces with them.

Putting the U.S. teams with Iraqi forces closer to the battlefront will allow them to provide more tactical combat advice as the Iraqi units move toward Mosul, the country's second-largest city. Until now, U.S. advisers have worked with the Iraqis at the headquarters level, well back from the front lines.

The Apaches are considered a significant aid to any attack on Mosul, providing precision fires in the fight.

Last December, U.S. officials were trying to carefully negotiate new American assistance with Iraqi leaders who often have a different idea of how to wage war. At that time, the Iraqis turned down a U.S. offer to provide Apache helicopters for the battle to retake Ramadi.

Speaking to U.S. troops at the airport in Baghdad, Defense Secretary Ash Carter also said that he will send an additional rocket-assisted artillery system to Iraq. The system is likely to be used by Army soldiers who replace the Marines current stationed at a small outpost outside of the Iraqi base of Mohkmour.

U.S. officials have also said previously that the number of special operations forces in Syria would be increased at some point, but Carter did not mention that in his comments. Officials spoke about the plan on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Carter's announcement Monday came after several meetings with his commanders and Iraqi leaders about how the U.S. can best help Iraqi forces retake Mosul.

He met with Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, the top U.S. military commander for the Islamic State fight, as well as a number of Iraqi leaders including, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iraq's minister of defense Khalid al-Obeidi.

sumur: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-IS-fight.html


AS Kirim Pasukan Tambakan ke Irak Untuk Perangi ISIS
Selasa 19 Apr 2016, 11:33 WIB

Washington, - Pemerintah Amerika Serikat akan mengerahkan helikopter-helikopter penyerang Apache dan pasukan tambahan ke Irak untuk memerangi kelompok radikal ISIS. Hal ini dilakukan seiring upaya koalisi internasional pimpinan AS untuk merebut kembali kota Mosul dari tangan ISIS.

"Kami akan mendatangkan tambahan pasukan," ujar Menteri Pertahanan Ashton Carter setibanya di Baghdad, Irak untuk kunjungan resmi seperti dilansir kantor berita AFP, Selasa (19/4/2016).

Pasukan tambahan AS tersebut akan mengiringi sekitar 2.500 tentara Irak untuk bergerak lebih dekat ke garis-garis depan pertempuran. Tadinya, personel militer AS yang berada di Irak hanya ditempatkan jauh di belakang medan tempur.

"Ini akan membuat pasukan Amerika lebih dekat ke aksi," tutur Carter. "Tujuan keseluruhan mereka adalah agar bisa membantu pasukan Irak merespons dengan lebih cepat," imbuhnya.

Juru bicara Departemen Pertahanan AS alias Pentagon, Kapten Angkatan Laut Jeff Davis menuturkan, sebanyak 217 personel tambakan akan dikerahkan ke Irak. Dengan demikian, jumlah total pasukan AS di Irak akan mencapai 4.087 orang.

Sejumlah helikopter Apache juga akan dikerahkan untuk mendukung upaya militer Irak mengepung dan pada akhirnya, merebut kembali Mosul dari ISIS.

"Itu (Apache) ditawarkan untuk langkah terhadap Mosul. Ini akan menjadi keputusan pemerintah Irak apakah helikopter-helikopter itu akan dikerahkan atau tidak," kata Davis.

sumber: http://news.detik.com/internasional/...k-perangi-isis

apakah ada perubahan kebijakan dari mr.Obama ato hanya sebatas penambahan penasehat militer saja....?

(Kalo sudah ada trits yang sama digabung aja ya mod)