Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - An initial batch of around 60 military planners will join a new coalition headquarters that will co-ordinate support for Iraqi and Kurdish troops.

The increase in British involvement follows Jordan’s decision to extend air strikes from Syria to Iraq.

Royal Artillery drones and electronic jammers from the Royal Signals are among units that will be in place by April.

The RAF Sentinel R1 spy-plane will be deployed to hunt down Islamic State commanders.

This follows criticism by the Commons defence committee that Britain was “not doing enough” to combat Islamic State.

Only three British soldiers were operating outside the Kurdish-controlled areas of Iraq, despite Defence Secretary Michael Fallon’s pledge to commit “hundreds” of trainers.

Senior military sources claim that the general election in May is slowing moves in Iraq.

“We will shortly be in a position to deploy as many as 2,000 troops mainly in a training capacity,” one said, “though a proportion will be ready for force protection purposes if that decision is taken.”

Select committee member Colonel Bob Stewart said there was “only one way to deal with people who behave in the most monstrous way under a masquerade for religious duty”.

*Sunday express