The Rutland (VT) Herald/The New York Times

While this article recaps several recent developments about Iraq and Syria, the most interesting part of the piece are the details about future ground troop deployments.

It was unclear Monday how many troops would remain in Iraq and for how long. But signs of a shifting mission were evident in force changes throughout Iraq that reflect an emerging new phase of the operation, in which ground forces will increasingly assume peacekeeping duties even as combat troops continue to root out remnants of the Iraqi military and paramilitary forces.

Military officials said Monday that the 4th Infantry Division, which has the Army's most advanced Abrams tanks, with digital tracking and communications systems, will be assigned control over northern Iraq. The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment will be assigned to protect the western flanks, a mission suited to a force that includes tanks, attack helicopters and reconnaissance helicopters.

Marines in the next few days will relieve a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division in southern Iraq, allowing the rapid-response force to head home and rest up for the next crisis. Over the next several weeks, the 1st Armored Division is expected to relieve the 3rd Infantry Division in and around Baghdad. The Army's V Corps headquarters is likely to move to Tikrit from Kuwait, military officials said.