London, Nov 10 - United States President Barack Obama has said that the decision to deploy 1,500 more troops to Iraq marks "a new phase" in the U.S. strategy to take on the Islamic State (IS).

Obama said that the new troops, although non-combat advisers, will aid Iraqi forces to attack the IS, reported the BBC.

A U.S.-led coalition has been helping Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces to take the lost territories back from the IS by conducting air strikes.

Iraqi forces have now seized large parts of Baiji , where Iraq's biggest oil refinery is situated, from the terror group. (ANI)