US Seeks Legal Protection For Troops Going to Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says the U.S. is seeking a written agreement with the Iraqi government to insure that the teams of special forces going in will have appropriate legal protections. Iraq's refusal to sign that type of agreement led to the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country in 2011 after eight years of war.

Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby says the Pentagon is committed to insuring the troops have legal protections, including assurances they would be subject to the U.S. military justice system if needed, not the Iraq judicial system.

President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of up to 300 special operations forces into Iraq to assess and assist the Iraq security forces as they battle an aggressive and rapidly moving insurgent group.