IS assembles forces strategically near Baghdad:
Fighters from the Islamic State were mustering with tanks, armored vehicles and heavy weapons Wednesday near a strategically located rural town about 25 miles west of Baghdad in embattled Anbar province, local officials said. Militants were approaching the town from north, west and east and they appeared to be preparing a siege, officials said. Ref. Source 3
Russia denies agreement with US to share intel on Islamic State militants:
Moscow on Thursday denied a US assertion that it had agreed to ramp up intelligence-sharing with Washington over the Islamic State group, saying it would provide no such help without UN Secuity Council approval. Ref. Source 7
Mortar shells land inside Baghdad's Green Zone:
Security officials told the Associated Press no casualties were reported inside the Green Zone, which houses the Iraqi government headquarters and the U.S. And British embassies. The officials said one of the mortar shells fell about 500 meters from the U.S. Embassy building Ref. Source 8
The White House announced Friday that President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 "Additional U.S. Military personnel in a non-combat role to train, advise, and assist Iraqi Security Forces, including Kurdish forces" Against ISIS.
The deployment will bring the total number of U.S. Troops there to about 2,900.
The White House said in a statement that it will also ask Congress for another $5.6 billion dollars to fund the fight against ISIS. Ref. CNN
US advisers spread out through Iraq:
The US security personnel sent to help Iraqi forces combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will be on the front lines alongside Iraqi troops and Kurdish forces, but will not engage in fighting unless for self-defence, Iraqi officials said. Ref. Source 7
U.S. Plans to arm Iraq's Sunni tribesmen with AK-47s, Role-Playing Games, mortars:
The United States plans to buy arms for Sunni tribesmen in Iraq including AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds to help bolster the battle against Islamic State militants in Anbar province, according to a Pentagon document prepared for Congress. Ref. Source 8
250 paratroopers to be deployed in Iraq, says U.S. Defense Department:
On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Department announced, that nearly 250 American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed in Iraq later this month. Ref. Source 7