Ruppersberger Applauds Decision to Send More Troops, Helicopters into Iraq to Fight ISIS

(Washington, DC) — Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today applauded the Pentagon’s decision to send more air support and 217 new troops into Iraq to serve in advisory and training roles in the fight against ISIS. The move will enable American forces to advise at the battalion and brigade level – closer to the front lines – to better support the Iraqi offensive to retake the city of Mosul from ISIS.

Congressman Ruppersberger, an Appropriator who serves on the House defense subcommittee, traveled to Iraq last month to meet with American troops and commanders on the frontlines to evaluate current resources and strategy. The group also met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Stuart Jones, and Iraqi military leaders, including a tribal leader whose people are under attack from ISIS.

 “I was in Iraq to hear directly from U.S. and Iraqi military leaders about the fight against ISIS – to find out what’s working and what’s not,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “My primary takeaway from the trip was that Iraq needs more resources, including manpower and helicopters. Our Special Ops are helping Iraqi forces, but they both need more support to defeat our common enemy. We must stop ISIS on their home turf so that they will not be able to attack the United States or our allies first.”