Top U.S. general makes surprise trip to Iraq

The top U.S. military leader made a surprise visit to Iraq on Saturday to assess American and Iraqi efforts to roll back the Islamic State, officials said.

The trip by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, comes as the U.S. plans to double the number of military advisers in Iraq, and two days after Dempsey suggested to Congress that the Pentagon may consider a modest additional number of U.S. troops to fight alongside Iraqis.

The general's spokesman, Air Force Col. Ed Thomas, said the...