The White House has asked Congress for an additional $5.6 billion to support military operations against the Islamic State organization, Defense News reported Tuesday.Paul McCleary writes the extra funding proposal for the Defense Department‘s overseas contingency operations account includes a $1.6 billion budget to train and equip Iraqi soldiers.
The U.S. also plans to deploy 1,500 more troops in Iraq to assist local security forces in their efforts to defeat IS militants, according to the publication.
McCleary reports about $2.3 billion of the Obama administration’s requested OCO budget would pay for DoD operations and maintenance costs associated with Operation Inherent Resolve.
DoD officials estimate that the U.S.-led airstrike campaign against the Islamic State group over Syria and Iraq costs $8.3 million per day since Aug. 8.
