President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of an additional 350 U.S. troops in Baghdad to protect the U.S. Embassy and its support facilities in the capital, the White House said on Tuesday.

President Obama approved the State Department’s request that allows more military personnel to depart for Iraq after an extensive inter-agency review and recommendation of the Department of Defense.

Like Us on Facebook

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement that the additional troops will not serve in a combat role, but will boost sustainable security force for American personnel and facilities in Baghdad.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said the new deployment will come from the U.S. Central Command area of operations and will include medical personnel, a headquarters element, associated helicopters, and an air-liaison team.

Kirby also added that about 820 military troops will be accountable for reinforcing diplomatic security in Iraq, bolstering the Iraqi military in Baghdad and Kurdish Peshmerga militia in the region of Irbil.

The 55 personnel who have been in Baghdad since June will be redeployed outside of Iraq to deal with other security contingencies in the region, he explained.

Reports said that the Department of Defense will keep on planning and preparing further military options to protect the U.S. diplomats, citizens, and the country’s interests in Iraq while working with the Iraqi government to fight against the Islamic State terrorists.

Meanwhile, the White House said in a statement that President Obama will be consulting with NATO allies this week concerning the additional actions against the militants and to establish international coalition to implement an inclusive strategy to protect the Americans and support U.S. partners in the battle counter to extremists.

TagsU.S., troops, Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq