U.S. paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will be deployed in Iraq.

According to a statement published on December 31, 2019, on the Official website of U.S. DoD, Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division to the U.S. Central Command area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq.

U.S. paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division receive a briefing before their deployment in Iraq. (Picture source facebook account  82nd Airborne Division)

Approximately 750 soldiers will deploy to the region immediately, and additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days. This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today.

A detachment of 100 Marines using V-22 tiltrotor aircraft were also deployed to protect the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, after Iraq protesters supportive of an Iran-backed Shiite militia attempted to storm the compound, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday, December 31, 2019. The US Marines were also supported by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

The Marines were requested by the U.S. State Department and their deployment was approved by Iraqi Security Forces after protesters attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, December 31, 2019.

On the official facebook account on the 82nd Airborne Division, its was announced that more than 650 All American Paratroopers and equipment began deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. U.S. paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division were activated and deployed in response to the increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities.

The remainder of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, the BCT currently assigned the IRF mission, and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division remain postured and ready to deploy in support of the National Command Authority.