President green lights deployment of 1,500 additional military personnel to Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN) -- President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional U.S. military personnel to Iraq, according to a statement released by the White House on Friday.
The troops will serve in a non-combat role to train, advise and assist Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish forces, the statement said.
The White House also said this afternoon it will request $5.6 billion from Congress for "activities to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL -- including military operations as part of Operation Inherent Resolve".