US Army soldiers look at a F-16 fighter jet during an official ceremony to receive four of these aircrafts from the US, at a military base in Balad, Iraq on July 20, 2015. (Reuters file photo)
The Obama administration will step up its military campaign against ISIS by sending more troops to Iraq, where they will be placed closer to the front lines of the conflict to advise Iraqi forces.
US Defense Secretary Ash Carter made the announcement on Monday during an unannounced visit to Baghdad, during which he met with US commanders, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi.
About 200 additional troops will be deployed, raising the number of US soldiers in Iraq to about 4,100, a senior US Defense official said.
The Pentagon will also provide up to $415 million to Kurdish peshmerga military units, as the Kurdish government struggles with a budget deficit.
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