Officials: US to send more troops to Iraq to help with Mosul

Washington — The United States is preparing to send an unspecific number of additional troops to Iraq to help reclaim the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group.

That's according to two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to publicly discuss the development before the official announcement — expected later on Wednesday.

The troops will train and advise Iraqis as planning to retake Mosul ramps up. The US-led coalition and Iraqi forces are planning to start the operation in the next few months. Mosul is Iraq's second-largest city — and ISIS' last major urban stronghold in Iraq.

The officials say the US consulted with Baghdad on the decision.

Officials have recently discussed adding several hundred US troops. The US has roughly 4 600 troops in Iraq.