“Two years after bringing home U.S. troops from Iraq, the Obama administration is sending Hellfire rockets and ScanEagle surveillance drones to help government forces fight al Qaeda affiliates growing in influence,” a State Department official confirmed to CNN.

Said an anonymous diplomatic official: “The recent delivery of Hellfire missiles and an upcoming delivery of ScanEagles are standard FMS (foreign military sales) cases that we have with Iraq to strengthen their capabilities to combat this threat. We remain committed to supporting the government of Iraq in meeting its defense needs in the face of these challenges.”