U.S. Troops Now Inside Mosul, Pentagon Says

WASHINGTON—U.S. forces have entered Mosul to assist Iraqi troops in retaking the besieged city, the Pentagon said Wednesday, part of an increasing American presence in the fight against Islamic State militants.

Advisers from U.S. and coalition partner forces have stepped up their activity in Iraq, approximately doubling to 450 the number working directly with local forces in the Mosul offensive. Those troops have gone into the city with Iraqi forces, the Pentagon said.

Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, confirmed the presence of the new advisers in a news conference Wednesday. They include special operations forces, intelligence and engineering troops, he said.

The U.S. has approximately 5,000 troops in Iraq, many of whom are stationed away from combat.

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Featured image courtesy of Reuters.