Delaware Army National Guard unit deploying to southwest Asia

DOVER - Roughly 250 soldiers in Delaware's Army National Guard are being deployed to southwest Asia.

The Delaware National Guard held a deployment ceremony Saturday at Delaware State University in Dover for the Guard's 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.

The soldiers will be away for nearly a year as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. That's the Pentagon's name for military actions taken to combat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Delaware Gov. John Carney thanked the soldiers for their service at Saturday's sendoff.

The Guard members will provide voice communication and networks to support warfighters in the region.

The actual deployment will occur later this month.