Last Updated Apr 18, 2016 11:23 AM EDT BAGHDAD

Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Baghdad Monday to talk to Iraqi leaders about beefing up Iraqi forces working to retake the northern city of Mosul, a critical goal in the effort to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Carter said the U.S. will send 200 more troops and a number of Apache helicopters to Iraq to assist in the figh.

He said the new forces will largely be used to advise Iraqi forces closer to the front lines.

The decision reflect weeks of discussions with commanders and Iraqi leaders, and a decision by President Barack Obama to increase the authorized troop level in Iraq by 217 – or from 3,870 to 4,087.

more at Source: Ash Carter in Iraq to talk Mosul battle with Iraqi leaders and assess need for more US troops and firepower – CBS News