Story highlights U.S. Defense Secretary Carter arrives for an unannounced visit in Iraq

He will meet the Iraqi Prime Minister, top U.S. generals and hold a Q&A session with troops

(CNN) U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced Monday the United States will send 217 additional troops to Iraq to serve as advisers and trainers.

They will also offer aviation support and provide force protection, Carter said, during an unannounced visit to Iraq.

The U.S. will additionally provide Army Apache attack helicopters -- something the U.S. had been pushing for months in the face of resistance from the Iraqi government.

The new forces, which will raise the U.S. troop presence in Iraq to more than 4,000, will be allowed to advise at the battalion and brigade level, rather than be restricted to the division level, Carter said, which means they are closer to the front lines and at greater risk.

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