The United States is sending 1,500 troops to Iraq and Syria, ostensibly to fight ISIL (ISIS), even as its regional standoff with Iran-aligned groups in those countries is rapidly heating up, a report by US outlet CBC News shows.

According to the report, soldiers from the New Jersey Army National Guard were celebrated and honoured by New Jersey state Governor Phil Murphy before their deployment, which is apparently their largest since 2008.

The soldiers will first head to Fort Bliss in Texas for training before going to the Middle East.