The United States military plans to send in more troops to Iraq.
Officials from the Pentagon announced Thursday that around 500 troops from the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas will be deployed to Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries next month in order to combat the Islamic State. The division is called “The Big Red One.”
This infantry division will be the first headquarters division sent to Iraq since 2011 when the U.S. withdrew its soldiers from the country.
Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters, “They’re going to provide command and control of the ongoing advise-and-assist effort in support of Iraqi and peshmerga forces. And they’re going to continue to help us all degrade and destroy ISIL.”
Kirby explained that around 200 of the troops will be sent to Baghdad, Irbil, and other U.S. bases in Iraq. He did not disclose the exact placement of the rest of the 500 troops, but told reporters that they would be placed outside of Iraq.
Although the exact duration of U.S. occupancy in Iraq and the Middle East is uncertain, many believe that it will be long term.
“I just don’t know for how long they’re going to be there or how and when they might be replaced,” said Kirby.
The Iraqi security forces have had much conflict with the IS. Large amounts of territory have been won by the IS. U.S. military equipment including tanks and heavy artillery have supposedly been taken by the IS in previous combat with the Iraqi forces.
When asked what results the recent air strikes had in terms of reclaiming territory from the IS, Kirby responded, “The Iraqi security forces are beginning to hold their own. There's a lot of work left to do.”
Kirby confirmed that there are currently no U.S. boots on the ground, and that the purpose of the air strikes was not necessarily to reclaim territory.
“There are Iraqi security forces on the ground responsible -- they are responsible for defending and securing their own population and their borders,” he said.
