Some 5,262 US troops will be in place to support Iraqi forces in the upcoming battle to capture the city of Mosul from the ISIL, the US Army said in a press release on Friday; FNA reports.
"The addition of more than 600 additional troops in the coming weeks will bring the force management level to 5,262 US troops," Director of US Department of Defense Press Operations Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said.
The US official, while most specific locations cannot be released for security reasons, identified two air bases, Al-Asad Air Base and Qayyarah Air Base, where the American troops will be sent with specific missions.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Friday that his country's armed forces are now in the final stage of the operation for liberating the city of Mosul.
He reiterated that Iraq's joint military forces are in full coordination with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, has been controlled by the ISIL (ISIS , Daesh) group since 2014.
Iraqi forces backed by popular forces are currently preparing an assault to liberate the strategic city.
SA - 12