US to send 130 military personnel to Iraq

August 13, 2014 09:09

United States President Barack Obama has authorised sending an additional 130 military personnel to northern Iraq to access the scope of the humanitarian mission for the thousands of Yezidi minority trapped on Mt Sinjar by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria.

The temporary authorisation from Obama comes at the recommendation of the Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel. These military personnel, comprising of Marines and special operations forces, are being sent to northern Iraq to assess the scope of the humanitarian mission and develop additional humanitarian assistance options beyond the current airdrop effort in support of displaced Iraqi civilians trapped on Sinjar Mountain by the ISIS, according to a defence official.

"These forces will not be engaged in a combat role," the defense official said on condition on anonymity.

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