WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has approved assigning 350 additional troops to protect the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and its support facilities.
The White House says in a statement that the State Department had asked for the additional military personnel to help protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel in the Iraqi capital. The Defense Department reviewed the request and recommended the additional troops.
The White House says Obama approved the additional troops on Tuesday and that they will not serve in a combat role.
The Pentagon says most of the additional troops are from the Army and some are Marines.
The new deployment raises the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq to more than 1,000, with just over 800 providing security for American personnel and facilities in Baghdad.
