Coalition-trained troops join fight for Ramadi

For the first time, Iraqi troops trained by the U.S.-led coalition have been added to the assault force Iraq is using to retake the city of Ramadi, a U.S. military official said.

The news that about 3,000 U.S.-trained Iraqi army soldiers were added to the fight was disclosed to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who spent the day meeting with U.S. and Iraqi officials and commanders in Baghdad.

Army Col. Steve Warren said the Pentagon chief was told that two Iraqi army brigades had joined the Ramadi counteroffensive within the last five days and that one of those newly trained units had advanced about 4 miles toward Ramadi in the preceding 24 hours.

Warren said about 500 Sunni Arab tribal fighters also have recently joined the advancing force.