Shortly after claiming that the US would not be dragged back into costly military operations in Iraq, President Barack Obama announced that 275 troops would be deployed to the region, supposedly for the purpose of protecting personnel at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

President Obama made the announcement Monday in a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Patrick Leahy, writing that the deployment is a requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

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In the letter, the President stated that the 275 troops would be equipped for combat and are slated to remain in Iraq until the security situation becomes more stable and they are no longer needed.

Currently, around 160 troops are already in Iraq, including 50 Marines and over 100 Army soldiers - some of which have only recently arrive in the country.  

On Friday, Obama once again stressed that the US would "not be sending troops back into combat." However, as the ISIS threat grows and the militant group has taken over areas in northern Iraq and moved closer to the nation's capital, intervention for the sake of U.S. citizens currently in Iraq has come to seem more and more necessary.

On Sunday, hundreds of U.S. staff were evacuated from the embassy in Baghdad, but according to the U.S. State Department, the majority of embassy staff will remain in place.

President Barack Obama's letter to the Speaker of the House runs as follows:

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Starting on June 15, 2014, up to approximately 275 U.S. Armed Forces personnel are deploying to Iraq to provide support and security for U.S. personnel and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. This force is deploying for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property, if necessary, and is equipped for combat. This force will remain in Iraq until the security situation becomes such that it is no longer needed.

This action has been directed consistent with my responsibility to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad, and in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

TagsObama, deploy, troops, Iraq, 275