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By Andrew Tilghman, Military Times–

The U.S. military will expand operations at Iraq’s al Asad air base as part of its preparations for the invasion of Mosul, where thousands of Islamic State militants have established the group’s largest stronghold outside of Syria.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Wednesday plans to deploy an additional 615 American troops to Iraq over the next several weeks. They will help support the Iraqi-led invasion planned for this fall.

Al Asad, a massive airfield in Anbar province, was a major hub for U.S. Marines throughout the Iraq war. Soon, it will see the arrival of more personnel and the installation of new technology that can support night operations, a Defense Department official said. The U.S. will set up a new “instrument landing system,” which will cover the airfield with radio signals that help pilots to land safely in conditions when they cannot see the runway, such as at night or in bad weather, the official said.

The equipment can be deployed on short notice.

“A lot of those

[615] folks will be going to al Assad air base,” said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, who described the facility as “lacking in a lot of the basic capabilities that it needs to be able to conduct this high throughput of operations as the Mosul operation progresses.”

The additional American personnel there will be focused primarily on logistics and maintenance, Davis said.

“They will be helping with airfield operations and bringing the state of those airfields up to a level to be able to support a greater pace of operations,” he added.

“A lot of those [615] folks will be going to al Assad air base,” said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, who described the facility as “lacking in a lot of the basic capabilities that it needs to be able to conduct this high throughput of operations as the Mosul operation progresses.”

The additional American personnel there will be focused primarily on logistics and maintenance, Davis said.

“They will be helping with airfield operations and bringing the state of those airfields up to a level to be able to support a greater pace of operations,” he added.

Since the return of U.S. forces to Iraq in 2014, al Asad has been the site of American-led training efforts for the Iraqi security forces. There, the U.S. military also maintains an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System , or HIMARS, which can deliver long-range precision strikes.