In a press conference today, President Obama announced that the U.S. was relocating some personnel out of Iraq, and sending reinforcements for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Obama also stated that there would be increased monitoring and surveillance of ISIL insurgents, and increased military support for Iraq, including joint operations centers in Baghdad.
Additional equipment also would be sent, in addition to a “small number of American military advisors, up to 300.”
But, he emphasized, “American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq”
The U.S. is prepared, though, to take “precise” military action if circumstances warranted, but not to support “one sect” against another.
As to failure to leave residual forces, Obama said “that was a decision made by the Iraqi government.”