Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — On the day of his major policy address on the new terrorism crisis, President Barack Obama directed the State Department to transfer $25 million in military aid to Iraq to fight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

A presidential memorandum said the assistance would also be delivered to the Kurdish Regional Government.

Under the memorandum, dated Sept. 10, the United States would transfer military surplus to Baghdad and Irbil. The directive said the assistance would include training of Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

“I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 506[a][1] of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the drawdown of up to $25 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense and military education and training to provide immediate military assistance to the Government of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Regional Government, to aid their efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown,” the memo said.

The directive marked a U.S. campaign to bolster Iraqi military capabilities against ISIL. Officials said Washington would expand military operations, including air strikes on ISIL in both Iraq and neighboring Syria.

In an address on late Sept. 10, Obama said the United States would send an additional 475 non-combat troops to Iraq. He said the troops would advise both Iraqi and KRG forces in the areas of training, intelligence and equipment.

“We’ll also support Iraq’s efforts to stand up National Guard units to help Sunni communities secure their own freedom from ISIL’s control,” Obama said.

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