Obama sending 350 more troops to Iraq

US President Barack Obama waves before boarding Air Force One before departing for Estonia while at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, September 2, 2014. Obama will also attend the NATO summit in Wales on Thursday and Friday where Russia's involvement in Ukraine is expected to be the main topic.[Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has ordered about 350 more troops to Baghdad to protect the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital and is sending top officials to the Middle East to "build a stronger regional partnership" against Islamic State militants, the White House said on Tuesday.

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Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby added that the move would bring the total number of US military personnel responsible for bolstering diplomatic security in Iraq up to about 820.

The US military has carried out a series of airstrikes against the group in Iraq, with the most recently announced one coming on Monday.

The United States invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling President Saddam Hussein, and Obama withdrew the last of the American military force in 2011. The United States previously deployed fresh troops to provide embassy security in Baghdad in June.