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Editor's note: This story was updated Friday to include comments from U.S. military officials in Baghdad and the head of U.S. Central Command. It was first published Thursday, March 9, at 7:16 p.m., EST.

WASHINGTON The U.S. military is sending an additional 2,500 ground combat troops to a staging base in Kuwait from which they could be called upon to back up coalition forces battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The deployment will include elements of the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, which is based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. About 1,700 soldiers from the same unit are overseas now, spread between Iraq and Kuwait. They're focused on the U.S.-led effort to train and assist the Iraqi troops doing much of the fighting against ISIS there.

"So the whole brigade will now be forward," Anderson said.

"There are a number of options under consideration as the coalition looks for ways to accelerate the defeat of ISIS," it says. "We continue to believe that the most effective way to achieve a lasting victory is to do it by, with and through our partner forces who have the greatest stake in the outcome. For operational security reasons, we will not discuss future deployments or contingency operational planning."

All told, the 82nd Airborne's 2nd Brigade Combat Team includes about 4,400 soldiers who compose infantry, artillery and cavalry units, plus their supply pipeline.

Asked on Thursday whether the soldiers soon bound for Kuwait have prepared to operate in such a challenging environment, a military official said they are trained to address "any contingency" in either theater.

The Pentagon earlier this month submitted plans to the White House for speeding efforts to defeat ISIS, one of President Trump's first orders upon assuming office. Those plans are said to include operations in a number of countries, not only Iraq and Syria.

Charlsy Panzino is a staff writer for Army Times. On Twitter: @charlsypanzino. Andrew deGrandpre is Military Times' senior editor and Pentagon bureau chief. On Twitter: @adegrandpre.

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The US is sending 2500 troops to Kuwait, ready to step up the fight in Syria and Iraq - ArmyTimes.com

Though OPEC has managed to achieve a high standard of compliance, it has mostly been due to the oversized cut by the largest member of the groupSaudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the actions and statements of the second and third largest producers in OPEC are throwing worrying signs at the oil bulls.

Saudi Arabia is in a catch 22 situation. As the defacto leader of OPEC, it is left to implement most of the production cuts to ensure a high level of overall group compliance. Saudis know that OPEC might not get another chance if it doesnt adhere to its production cuts.

Another reason is the forthcoming IPO of Saudi Aramco. Without higher oil prices, Saudi Arabia might not get the valuation it is expecting for its crown jewel. Aramcos successful listing is vital for reaching Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 objective.

However, two OPEC members, Iran and Iraq, are exploiting Saudi Arabias precarious position by taking steps to boost production. The Kingdom will have to contend with increased production from Iran and Iraq, along with tackling the U.S. shale oil producers.

According to the IEA, Iraq will increase its output to 5.4 million barrels per day by 2022, which is significantly higher than the earlier estimates of an increase to 4.6 million bpd by 2021. Similarly, Iran is expected to boost production by 400,000 bpd to reach 4.15 million bpd production in 2022.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry and the Iranian Oil Ministry have signed a memorandum of understanding to bury their differences on joint oil fields and build a pipeline to export crude oil from the Kirkuk fields, in the north of Iraq, through Iran, reported the Al Monitor.

Iraq, which produced 4.47 million bpd in January, well above its quota of 4.35 million bpd, is capable of raising its output to 5 million bpd in the second half of this year, said Iraqs Minister of Oil, Jabbar Ali Al-Luiebi.

"We achieved this great achievement of 4 million barrels per day ... middle of 2016, and now we have climbed up and we are reaching about 5 million barrels per day beginning of second half of this year," Al-Luaibi said during an interview at CERA Week by IHS Markit, reports CNBC. Related:Oil Prices Continue Plunging As Speculators Rush For The Exit

This is bearish for oil because, along with Saudi Arabia, Iraq will also hold spare capacity that can be ramped up during supply outages.

"Obviously, it's bearish. They're going to have to show considerable production constraint having that spare capacity. That's the kind of capacity historically only the Saudis have had," said John Kilduff, founding partner at energy hedge fund Again Capital, reports CNBC.

Meanwhile, Iran has managed to increase its exports to 3 million bpd, its highest level since 1979. The landmark was reached for just a day, in the current Iranian month that began Feb. 19, said the Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, according to state news agency IRNA, reports Bloomberg.

Iran wants to increase its production to 5 million bpd by 2021. However, it needs investments by foreign investors to achieve that target. This will not be a new high in production for Iran, because it used to pump in excess of 6 million bpd in the 1970s, before the Islamic Revolution drove the western investors away. A fresh round of foreign investment is the key, which is yet to take off in Iran.

Nevertheless, with every major oil producer looking to boost production, the oil glut is here to stay.

By Rakesh Upadhyay for Oilprice.com

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Iran And Iraq To Ramp Up Oil Production Despite OPEC Cuts - OilPrice.com

Iraq War veteran rescues dog that... More Headlines

BRIGGSVILLE, Wis. - When Justin Neumeiers dog, Charles, fell through the ice on Lake Mason, the instincts he developed as a U.S. Marine serving Iraq kicked in and he went out to rescue the black lab.

Maybe it was my Marine Corps mentality, just get it done, Neumeier said.

Serving with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine, Neumeier saw some of the wars toughest combat in the battle for Ramadi in 2004.

Neumeier says the ice was only a half-inch thick and he could hear it cracking beneath him as he made his way out to Charles. The dog was exhausted from being in the water, which made it difficult for Neumeier to get it out of the water. He had to carry the 90 pound dog back to shore on thin ice.

It probably was not the smartest thing to do in the world, but there are things you care about and things that have a heart and a pulse. You care enough that you want to get them and you treat them right and let them live a good life, Neumeier said.

A veterinarian examined the dog after it was rescued. That vet believes, given the body temperature of the dog, it would not have survived much longer in the water.

When the deed is done, then you realize, OK, boy, I really could have lost him. So you get a little different appreciation for things, Neumeier said.

The current ice conditions on lakes and rivers in southern Wisconsin are unsafe for pets and humans.

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Iraq War veteran rescues dog that fell through ice - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3

Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, head of U.S. Africa Command, raised the alarm Thursday aboutRussian interference in Libya during a Senate hearing onCapitol Hill.

It is very concerning, senator,"Waldhauser said in response to Arizona Sen. John McCain's question about Russian involvement in the region. "General Haftar has visited, as you said, on the carrier with the Russians. He's also visited in the country of Russia. Also, this week it's reported in the open press, [Prime Minister Fayez al-] Sarraj from the Government of National Accord has also visited Russia.

In January, Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar a former general whose militia opposes the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoliwas invited onto the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov for a tour and video conference with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Haftars Libyan National Army has been waging a battle against ISIS militants and rival political factions in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

The situation in Libya right now is highly fractured, Waldhauser told lawmakers.

Powerful militias with varying political allegiances have been waging battle for control of Libyas coastal cities and oil infrastructure since the overthrow ofMoammar Gadhafiin October 2011.

It's difficult to say who is the most powerful partner right now inside Libya, Waldhauser said. "If you took polls, you would see that the Libyan National Army has got great support in the ... east, and the GNA has support in the west.

The fractured state of Libyas government has created chaos around the region and invited meddling from outside foreign agents and terrorist groups, to include ISIS.

Senator, Russia is trying to exert influence on the ultimate decision of who becomes, and what entity becomes, in charge of the government inside Libya,"Waldhauser told South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. "They're working to influence that decision."

The power vacuum created after the collapse of the Libyan state,with the U.S. and Russia backing rival militia leaders along the Libyan coast,has led to comparisons to the conflict in Syria. AndRussia is seeking to exert its influence over Libya much as it has in Syria, Waldhauser said.

The U.S. air campaign targeting ISIS fighters in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte this past fall aided a militia out of the nearby city of Misrata, which backs the Western-supported, U.N.-backed Government of National Accord led by Sarraj. The Misratan forcespushed ISIS fighters out of Sirte and into the desert, butthe group still poses a threat to the region.

The status of ISIS in Libya is they are right now regrouping,"Waldhauser said. "They're in small numbers, small groups."

In a Feb. 17 interview with The Associated Press, Waldhauser said massive Jan. 18 airstrikes against ISIS camps in southern Libya killed more than 80 Islamic State militants and generated significant intelligence, including critical computer data, documents and information from prisoner interrogations, which the U.S. could use to track and target more fighters.

Alluding to those airstrikes in his Senate testimony, Waldhauser said Islamic State militants have "scattered again now; they're in small groups, trying to regroup."

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AFRICOM commander voices concern over Russian meddling in Libya - Military Times

Libya Herald

Barasi warns oilfield fighting will harden division in Libya Libya Herald The battle for the central oil crescent terminals will only deepen divisions in Libya, former deputy prime minister Awad Al-Barasi has told the Libya Herald. He criticised elements of the Presidency Council's (PC) government of national accord (GNA ... BDB hails Italian statement on oil crescent, calls Egypt to be neutralThe Libya Observer all 3 news articles »

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Barasi warns oilfield fighting will harden division in Libya - Libya Herald