Reuters reports that “Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Wednesday that Washington would send more U.S. troops to help local forces in the battle to retake Mosul from Islamic State that is expected later this year.”

“‘American President Barack Obama was consulted on a request from the Iraqi government for a final increase in the number of trainers and advisers under the umbrella of the international coalition in Iraq,’ he said in a statement.”

“In Washington, a U.S. Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Pentagon had recommended that more than 500 additional troops be sent to Iraq.”