US may deploy 100 special forces troops to advise the Iraqi army in its defense of Baghdad from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorists, but not initially to call in airstrikes, US defense officials said Thursday.

The United States may deploy 100 special forces troops to advise the Iraqi army in its defense of Baghdad from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorists, but not initially to call in airstrikes, US defense officials said Thursday.

President Barack Obama is "leaning" toward a limited course of action that would include the commandos and the Iraqi forces, one of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.