U.S. troops are supporting Iraqi efforts to capture the last big ISIS stronghold in Iraq

Several hundred American troops have arrived at the Qayyarah air base near Mosul, Iraq, to assist Iraqi forces working to capture the last major Iraqi city held by the Islamic State. The U.S.-Iraqi attack will begin as early as October; at present, the coalition forces are planning their approach, which will involve first seizing smaller towns near the city's outskirts.

The Department of Defense "has made clear that our forces in Iraq are in harm's way," said the Pentagon's press secretary, Peter Cook, on Thursday. "Everyone who is serving there is in a dangerous situation."

Meanwhile, the U.S. will shift additional air power and military personnel into Syria, where ISIS is also active, to target militants as required by the recent cease-fire deal with Russia. Senior military officials told the Associated Press those additional troops and equipment would be new arrivals to the Mideast, as the Pentagon does not want to detract from anti-ISIS efforts elsewhere in the region.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up