KEY POINTS:
In January, the surge plan called for an additional 21,500 combat troops. An extra 2200 military police are being added to handle those detained in security sweeps.
A further 2400 combat and service-support personnel take the overall increase to 28,700. Now a combat aviation brigade of 2600, which was to go mid-year as part of rotation, is to be sent early to support the surge.
Rising tide of troops
There were 150,000 US troops in Iraq at the time of the invasion four years ago this week.
By March 2004 the total slipped as low as 117,500 once Saddam Hussein was in custody but rose again in November and December 2005 for national elections.
There were 132,000 American ground troops in Iraq at the beginning of this year.
When the reinforcements finish arriving by the end of June, the total will rise above 160,000, more than at any point in the past four years.
- INDEPENDENT
