US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday extended the stay of some 20,000 American troops who have nearly completed their one-year stay and are preparing to rotate out of Iraq.
"Essentially we've approved the extension of roughly 20,000 forces, people who are currently in the theater," he said a news conference at the Department of Defense.
"The period will be for up to an additional 90 days in Iraq andup to 120 days' total deployment," he said.
Rumsfeld said General John Abizaid, commander of the US CentralCommand which is charge of US military operations in the Middle East, requested "additional combat capability for the period ahead," and "I've approved General Abizaid's request."
The decision came at a time when the US forces in Iraq suffereddozens of deaths in April confronting surging insurgency across the country.
Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the 20,000 soldiers were mainly from the 1st Armored Division and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the additional forces shouldbe "sufficient for the threat that they now face."
Rumsfeld said that about one-quarter of the 20,000 troops beingextended were members of the National Guard or Reserve. "We regrethaving to extend those individuals," he said.
There are currently about 137,000 US troops in Iraq, according to Rumsfeld.
Source: Xinhua