U.S. President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry meet with representatives from the five Arab countries plus Iraq who have participated in air strikes against ISIS in Syria early Tuesday on September 23, 2014 in New York City. World leaders, activists and protesters have converged on New York City for the annual UN General Assembly which brings together the global leaders for a week of meetings and conferences UPI/Spencer Platt/Pool | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- For the first time since the U.S. withdrew from Iraq in 2011 the U.S. Army is preparing to deploy a division headquarters to Iraq.

The move comes as the U.S. is expanding the war against the Islamic State -- also known as ISIS or ISIL.


An official announcement is expected in the next few days.

Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno has said the Army "will send another division headquarters to Iraq to control what we're doing there, a small headquarters."

The division headquarters being sent to Iraq is expected to be responsible for coordinating the 1,600 troops President Obama has sent there.

Many of those troops will be assisting with Iraqi Security Forces, others are providing intelligence and security.