The nearly 500 American troops sent to Iraq are to fly Apache attack helicopters and use unarmed surveillance drones in Baghdad for the “U.S. embassy’s security”

The nearly 500 American troops sent to Iraq are to fly Apache attack helicopters and use unarmed surveillance drones in Baghdad for the “U.S. embassy’s security”, Pentagon officials said on Tuesday.

A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the drones were not Reapers or Predators but they are smaller Shadow robotic aircraft launched from a catapult.

The reinforcements will include troops to fly and maintain Apache attack helicopters and unarmed surveillance drones, Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby told a news conference.

The Shadow aircraft, which have been heavily used by U.S. forces previously in Iraq and in Afghanistan, are about 14 feet (4 meters) long and can fly at an altitude of 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).

The U.S. security contingent will concentrate on safeguarding access to the Baghdad airport as well as the embassy, the official said.

President Barack Obama on Monday ordered 200 additional troops to the Iraqi capital.

Kirby told reporters that the additional troops would "help provide extra security for our facilities, our people, our property, and to also allow -- to help allow the State Department and the embassy to continue to function as it is." The embassy remains "open," he added.

The situation "continues to be very dangerous" and "the threat continues to be very real," Kirby said.

"But we have seen Iraqi security forces in and around Baghdad begin to reinforce themselves and prepare to defend, and they are taking the offensive," he said. "And we saw this over the weekend up near Tikrit," said Kirby, referring to a counter-offensive by Baghdad government forces.