Britain bolsters presence in Iraq with additional troops

British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said on Saturday that his country is sending more troops to Iraq to train local forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).

Fallon said “a further 30 troops would be deployed to provide training in logistics and bridge-building, as well as specialist medical staff.” AFP reported.

Britain currently has 270 military personnel in Iraq.

"Now is the time to step up our training of Iraqi forces, as they prepare for operations in key cities such as Fallujah and Mosul," Fallon was quoted as saying.

The new troops will be deployed to camps at Bismayah and Taji near Baghdad.

Fallon said that the troops will add to the impact British air strikes have had against ISIS in Iraq.

"Along with the trebling of UK air strikes, this underlines the crucial role our armed forces are playing in the fight against Daesh," according to AFP.

British fighter jets have been bombing ISIS positions and weapons caches in both Iraq since September 2014 and expanded the mission to Syria last December.

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via Defense News