DHAKA: The first US troops deployed to assist the Iraqi army in combating a growing Sunni militant insurgency have arrived and begun work, said the Pentagon.   

Nearly half the 300 special operations soldiers promised by US President Barack Obama are in Baghdad or on the front lines of the fight.

The rest are expected to come within days. 

On the other hand, US Secretary of State John Kerry called for regional unity to expel the Sunni ISIS rebels who have taken large swathes of Iraq.

On Tuesday, two teams totalling 40 US troops began work assessing Iraqi troops on the front line, news BBC. 

BDST: 0922 HRS, JUN 25, 2014