Iraqi leader resists US push for Turkish role in Mosul fight
By LOLITA C. BALDOR U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s push for Iraq to let Turkey play a role in the battle to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group encountered…
Troop deployments
US forces increasing Iraq footprint ahead of Mosul operation
By SUSANNAH GEORGE Thirteen years ago, Chase Snow’s father was among the American troops who moved into the Iraqi city of Mosul during the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.…
Israel beefs up troops in West Bank after Tel Aviv shooting
By DANIEL ESTRIN Israel on Thursday imposed a series of sweeping restrictions on Palestinian movement and deployed hundreds of additional troops to the West Bank in response to a Tel…
Q&A: When is a Boot on the Ground not a Boot on the Ground?
By LOLITA C. BALDOR No one disputes that U.S. military forces are fighting in combat in Iraq and Syria — except maybe President Barack Obama and some members of his…
On surprise Iraq visit, Biden urging end to political crisis
By JOSH LEDERMAN Vice President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Thursday to implore the country’s leaders to resolve a crippling political crisis that has hindered efforts…
Obama boosts Islamic State fight, asks Europe to do the same
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY Evoking history and appealing for solidarity, President Barack Obama on Monday cast his decision to send 250 more troops to Syria as a bid to keep up…
US to send 200 more troops, Apache helicopters, to Iraq
By LOLITA C. BALDOR The U.S. has agreed to deploy more than 200 additional troops to Iraq and to send eight Apache helicopters for the first time into the fight…
Pentagon moving to increase US troop numbers in Iraq soon
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and ROBERT BURNS The Pentagon said Friday it was moving to increase the number of American forces in Iraq and announced that U.S. forces have killed…