Dozens of US Troops on Ground in Western Iraq

Local Editor

The US has deployed approximately 50 troops to to Iraq's western Anbar province for the first time in the fight against so-called "Daesh" ["ISIL"], the Pentagon said on Monday.

"I can confirm that approximately 50 US military personnel are visiting al-Asad Air Base to conduct a site survey of facilities for potential future use as an advise and assist operation location in support of Iraq Security Forces," spokeswoman Commander Elissa Smith said.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama's administration announced recently last week plans to send up to 1,500 more forces to Iraq, roughly doubling the US troop presence there as it expands its "mission".

The decision expands the scope of the campaign and the geographic distribution of forces, including the first deployment of US advisers to Iraq's western Anbar province.

As part of those plans, a small group of US troops is conducting a site survey of facilities for potential future use at Ain al-Asad air base, the largest in Anbar, US officials said.

"I can confirm that approximately 50 US military personnel are visiting al-Asad [air base]," a spokesman at the US military's Central Command, Colonel Patrick Ryder, said.

He denied assertions in Iraq that the forces were preparing to arm tribes in the region, but acknowledged that American troops there were prepared to defend themselves.

"A portion of the group consists of force protection personnel and any weapons US forces possess are for force protection requirements," he said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team