COLCHESTER paratroopers are poised to go back to Iraq in a bid to halt Islamic State fighters.

Two companies from the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, based at Merville Barracks, have been placed on standby to fly to Iraq to provide “force protection” for the Iraqi defence teams.

They are among hundreds of British troops who are on standby to go back to the war-torn country for the first time since 2009.

The move is set to be approved tomorrow. 

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said ground campaign was required because Isis fighters are hiding from coalition airstrikes in dense urban areas, making it difficult for forces to target them.

The troops are expected to train security forces in safe areas, near Baghdad, and in northern Iraq.

Mr Fallon added: “The challenge now is that the airstrikes have changed [Isis’s] patterns.

“They are not using large formations out in the open any more.

“They are increasingly tucked away in towns and villages [and] that means they have got to be rooted out by ground troops.

“This has to be done by a home grown army, not by western groups.”

Colchester MP, Sir Bob Russell was in Iraq last week with the Commons’ Defence Committee, where he spoke to President Fuad Masum.

Sir Bob said he supported the plans, as long as troops were in a training - and not combative - roles.

The MP said: “In response to a question I put to the President, he said ‘no’ to British combat troops on the ground against the insurgents but ‘yes’ to training, more equipment and a continuation of air strikes.

“The President explained that a return of combat troops would be regarded as ‘occupying forces’ which would create other difficulties for Iraq’s civil order and governance.”

An MoD spokesman said: “The Defence Secretary announced the intention to provide further training to the Iraqi military in early November.

“No decisions on troop numbers, units or locations have been made, so this is purely speculation at this stage.”