US will send 2,000 troops to Iraq, maintain advisory role

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) –  About 2,100 US soldiers will deploy to Iraq later this year to take over the mission to train and advise Iraqi security forces fighting Islamic State (IS) militants following the fall of Mosul, the US announced last week.

The soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division will replace the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in the fall, according to an Army news release.

The 82nd Airborne’s 2nd Brigade has spent about seven months in Iraq, advising the Iraqi forces during the offensive to liberate Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and last major IS stronghold in the country.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the extremist group in Mosul on July 10 despite reports of pockets of resistance still battling Iraqi forces.

The US-led Operation Inherent Resolve coalition reported carrying airstrikes on IS targets around the city last week.

The US has pledged to leave its forces in Iraq and support the country’s security forces in the post-IS era.

The 3rd Brigade soldiers are likely to aid Iraqis as they lead the battle to liberate Tal Afar, a town some 60 kilometers west of Mosul, Hawija in the Kirkuk Province, and al-Qaim along the Euphrates River at the Syrian border.

The US has about 5,200 troops officially deployed to Iraq, but officials have said hundreds more are in the country at any given time on temporary assignments.

Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition commander, said the Pentagon is in talks with the Iraqi government about keeping some troops in the country after IS is eliminated.

US President Donald Trump was optimistic about the fight against IS on Thursday as he headed into the Pentagon from meetings.

“We’re doing very well against [IS]. [IS] is falling fast. Very fast,” he said.

US troops are also present in Syria, backing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as they fight to recapture Raqqa from the extremist group.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany