U.S. Considering Plan to Send More Troops to Iraq

Local Editor

The Pentagon is considering sending about 300 more troops to Iraq in order to enhance security for U.S. State Department facilities in Baghdad, according to a U.S. official on Wednesday, bringing the total number of uniformed Americans there to approximately 1,000.

According to a senior U.S. official, the number of additional troops currently under discussion would be close to 300, but there has been no final decision yet by Pentagon leaders.

Officials said that the forces, according to them, would mainly provide extra security around Baghdad.

A decision is not "imminent," the U.S. official further said, as War Department leaders are waiting on a formal request for the additional forces.

There are already 700 American troops in Baghdad protecting the embassy and the airport, war officials have said, as well as Boeing-built AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, small remotely operated aircraft and other weapons.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team