"The size of our mission will increase from 500 personnel to around 4,000," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, adding that the increases would be "incremental."

"Training activities will now include more Iraqi security institutions, and areas beyond Baghdad."

Stoltenberg insisted that the mission was being carried out "at the request of the Iraqi government."

"It is carried out with full respect for Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Reporter's code: 50101