The U.S. approved dispatching an additional 217 troops to support Iraq's military as its forces attempt to retake Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, the Pentagon announced Monday.
The Pentagon also expanded its authorities so that U.S. advisers can accompany Iraq's combat battalions as they advance toward Mosul. They had been limited to remaining at higher headquarters, which generally meant they were not close to the battlefield.
Retaking the sprawling city is expected to be the biggest challenge Iraq's military has faced since much of it collapsed in the face of an Islamic State attack into Iraqi territory two years ago.
The Pentagon also said it would provide $415 million in aid for Kurdish forces, called Peshmerga, who are expected to play a key role in the effort to retake Mosul. The money will be disbursed in monthly increments, said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
The semi-autonomous Kurds have long been at odds with Iraq's central government over the disbursement of oil revenues, which declined as prices fell. Davis said the money destined for the Kurds would still go through Iraq's central government.
The additional advisers will raise the authorized level of U.S. troops to 4,087 from 3,870. The Pentagon acknowledged the number can exceed the authorized level when troops are deployed on temporary assignments.The new authorizations for U.S. advisers to accompany Iraqi battalions could place American troops closer to fighting. Davis said the new authorities were required because Iraqi units will be advancing north.
The new authority would not change their role of being advisers to Iraqi forces. "They're not engaged in direct on the ground combat," he said.
In making the announcement, the Pentagon also said it was offering Iraq's military the use of U.S. Apache attack helicopters, which excel at providing close fire support to help ground troops engaged in urban combat.
The U.S. military made a similar offer to Iraq during an operation to retake Ramadi, a city west of Baghdad that had also fallen under Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIL, control. The Iraqis declined the offer.
Iraqi forces have already begun preliminary operations to retake Mosul, but a final assault to clear the city is months away. As many as a million civilians remain in Mosul and the city is defended by thousands of Islamic State fighters.
Prior to Monday's announcement Pentagon officials have said they have been discussing with the Iraqi government ways to accelerate the offensive to retake Mosul.
"I do expect that there'll be increased capabilities provided to the Iraqis to set the conditions for their operations in Mosul," Marine Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last month.
