美軍將向伊拉克增派600多名士兵

The U.S. and Iraq have agreed on a plan that will send about 600 additional American troops to Iraq to help retake Mosul from Islamic State, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced Wednesday.

美國國防部長卡特星期三宣佈，美國和伊拉克達成一項增派600多名美軍前往伊拉克的計劃，協助伊拉克從伊斯蘭國手中奪回摩蘇爾。

Speaking to reporters in New Mexico, Carter said the increase is part of the coalition's "accelerating campaign" to "isolate and collapse" Islamic State's control over Mosul and "expand gains by Iraqi Security Forces elsewhere in Iraq."

卡特在新墨西哥州對記者說，增派美軍是聯軍“加速攻勢”的一部分，以“孤立和粉碎”伊斯蘭國對摩蘇爾的控制，並“擴大伊拉克保安部隊在其他地區的戰果。”

A U.S. defense official put the total number at 615, bringing the number of American troops authorized to fight IS in Iraq at 5,262.

一名美國國防官員說，增派的美軍人數是615人，從而將美國授權在伊拉克與伊斯蘭國作戰的總兵力增至5262人。

Carter said the additional U.S. military personnel will train, advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga. They also will be used to improve logistics and to intensify intelligence operations with a “special emphasis” on uncovering IS plans to launch terror attacks against Baghdad and the West.

卡特說，增派的美軍人員將訓練、建議並協助伊拉克保安部隊和庫爾德自由戰士。他們還將被用來改善後勤工作並加強情報行動，“特別着重於”破獲伊斯蘭國對巴格達和西方發動恐怖襲擊的陰謀。

Carter also echoed other top U.S. defense officials who have suggested the battle to retake Mosul could get under way in a matter of weeks.

卡特也表達了與其他美國高層國防官員相同的看法。他們提出，重新奪回摩蘇爾的戰鬥幾個星期之內就有可能展開。