Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has pledged a more aggressive military deployment in Iraq.

Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has approved a more than 50 percent increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The officials said the troops would engage in training and mentoring of Iraqi military units as well as force protection.

“The kind of support that we are going to be giving to the Iraqi security forces will be more aggressive,” Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Obama announced the deployment of an additional 475 troops as part of a U.S. effort to enhance the Iraqi military against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The president also said Washington would deliver $25 million in military aid to Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government.

“Decisions about when to conduct these actions will be made at a prudent time as we continue to prosecute our comprehensive strategy against these ISIL terrorists,” a senior defense official said.

Officials said 150 of the additional troops would train and advise the Iraq Army. They said each U.S. team would consist of 12 advisers assigned to be embedded at the brigade level.

In a briefing on Sept. 11, Kirby said the new troops would be capable of self-defense but would not be involved in foot patrols or combat operations.

He said 125 soldiers would support air combat and reconnaissance operations from the northern Kurdish city of Irbil.

“These forces include aircrews and maintenance personnel,” Kirby said. “Sending aircraft to Iraq will free up some of the unmanned assets we have been using to conduct additional operations in the region.”

  Iraqi Army, ISIL, John Kirby, KRG, Kurds, pledges $25 million in military aid to Baghdad, U.S. sends more troops