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Obama 'to send 500 more troops to Iraq' Obama 'to send 500 more troops to Iraq'
(34 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is reportedly preparing to approve the deployment of more US troops to Iraq to train up local forces fighting Islamic State.US President Barack Obama is reportedly preparing to approve the deployment of more US troops to Iraq to train up local forces fighting Islamic State.
He is considering up to 500 additional troops as well as a new training base in Iraq's Anbar province, unnamed US officials were quoted as saying.He is considering up to 500 additional troops as well as a new training base in Iraq's Anbar province, unnamed US officials were quoted as saying.
President Obama said earlier this week the US lacked a "complete strategy" for helping Iraq regain territory from IS.President Obama said earlier this week the US lacked a "complete strategy" for helping Iraq regain territory from IS.
IS has recently made gains in Iraq despite US-led coalition air strikes.IS has recently made gains in Iraq despite US-led coalition air strikes.
In May the militants seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, Iraq's largest province, as well as the Syrian town of Tadmur and the neighbouring ancient ruins of Palmyra.In May the militants seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, Iraq's largest province, as well as the Syrian town of Tadmur and the neighbouring ancient ruins of Palmyra.
IS fighters took control of Iraq's second city Mosul a year ago this week. IS fighters took control of Iraq's second city Mosul a year ago.
Inside Mosul: What's life like under Islamic State? Inside Mosul: Life under IS control
Islamic State: How it is run On the front line in battle for Mosul
Washington's National Security Council said it was now "considering a range of options to accelerate the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces". Footage reveals IS regime in Mosul
What has happened since the fall of Mosul?
The US National Security Council said it was now "considering a range of options to accelerate the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces".
"Those options include sending additional trainers," spokesman Alistair Baskey said."Those options include sending additional trainers," spokesman Alistair Baskey said.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told journalists on a visit to Jerusalem that there would be no fundamental change to Mr Obama's military strategy in Iraq.General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told journalists on a visit to Jerusalem that there would be no fundamental change to Mr Obama's military strategy in Iraq.
But, he added, the service chiefs had "made some recommendations on potential enhancements to the training and equip mission".But, he added, the service chiefs had "made some recommendations on potential enhancements to the training and equip mission".
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondentAnalysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
Sending more US trainers may ultimately help to build a new Iraqi military but for many analysts the problem remains: The US strategy is not so much incomplete, as President Obama admits, but failing.Sending more US trainers may ultimately help to build a new Iraqi military but for many analysts the problem remains: The US strategy is not so much incomplete, as President Obama admits, but failing.
So how might it be done differently?So how might it be done differently?
General David Petraeus, the architect behind the strategy that helped to defeat Islamic State's predecessor, told me in a BBC interview earlier this month that the US needed to furnish much closer support to the Iraqis both at the government level in Baghdad and on the ground.General David Petraeus, the architect behind the strategy that helped to defeat Islamic State's predecessor, told me in a BBC interview earlier this month that the US needed to furnish much closer support to the Iraqis both at the government level in Baghdad and on the ground.
He did not rule out sending US forward air controllers to the front line, for example.He did not rule out sending US forward air controllers to the front line, for example.
And he made it clear that in his view Iraqi troops could fight and win, but they needed to know that the US and its allies "had their back", ie, that air power support was just a call away.And he made it clear that in his view Iraqi troops could fight and win, but they needed to know that the US and its allies "had their back", ie, that air power support was just a call away.
The plan follows months of behind-the-scenes debate within the White House on how to retake Mosul and Ramadi, the New York Times reports.The plan follows months of behind-the-scenes debate within the White House on how to retake Mosul and Ramadi, the New York Times reports.
US officials believe a major factor in the fall of Ramadi was a lack of training of Iraqi forces.US officials believe a major factor in the fall of Ramadi was a lack of training of Iraqi forces.
There are currently around 3,000 US military personnel, including trainers and advisers, in Iraq.There are currently around 3,000 US military personnel, including trainers and advisers, in Iraq.
The United Kingdom said earlier this week it will send an extra 125 troops, taking the number of UK personnel training Iraqi security forces to 275.
Mr Obama said on Monday that the US did not have a complete strategy in Iraq "because it requires commitments on the part of Iraqis as well about how recruitment takes place, how that training takes place".Mr Obama said on Monday that the US did not have a complete strategy in Iraq "because it requires commitments on the part of Iraqis as well about how recruitment takes place, how that training takes place".
He said that US staff in Iraq sometimes found themselves with "more training capacity than we've got recruits".He said that US staff in Iraq sometimes found themselves with "more training capacity than we've got recruits".
Mr Obama said it was important to draw Sunni Muslims into the fight against IS as they are "willing and prepared to fight... but it has not been happening as fast as it needs to".Mr Obama said it was important to draw Sunni Muslims into the fight against IS as they are "willing and prepared to fight... but it has not been happening as fast as it needs to".
Iraq has become increasingly reliant on Iranian-backed Shia militias to take on IS in recent months.Iraq has become increasingly reliant on Iranian-backed Shia militias to take on IS in recent months.
The move has raised fears of worsening sectarian tensions as the militias try to drive the jihadist fighters out of predominantly Sunni areas like Anbar.The move has raised fears of worsening sectarian tensions as the militias try to drive the jihadist fighters out of predominantly Sunni areas like Anbar.