Iraq Fights Terrorism: Pentagon Chief in Baghdad for Talks on Daesh Fight
Local Editor
As the Iraqi army continues to score new achievements in its fight against terrorism, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter arrived in Baghdad Monday for talks with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on plans to recapture Mosul from the Daesh [Arabic Acronym for the terrorist "ISIS"/"ISIL" extremists] terrorist group.
Carter's unannounced visit -- his fourth to Iraq since beginning his job in February 2015 -- comes two days after Iraqi forces captured an airbase to the south of Mosul that is seen as an important step toward the eventual battle for the country's second city, which has been under ISIS control since June 2014.
More than two years after Daesh overran large parts of Iraq as well as territory in neighboring Syria, Carter wants to highlight successes, even as the extremists have fought back with devastating attacks in Iraq and abroad.
"What I'll be discussing with Prime Minister Abadi and our commanders there are the next plays in the campaign, which involve the collapse and control over Mosul," Carter told reporters aboard a military plane ahead of his visit.
The ultimate goal, he added, was "the recapture of all of Iraqi territory by the Iraqi security forces, but of course Mosul is the biggest part of that."
The Qayyarah airbase, which Abadi announced Saturday had been recaptured, is located 60 kilometers south of Mosul and can serve as a launch-pad for future operations to recapture the city.
US military officials say the campaign's first "10 plays" have been successfully completed in the US-led counter- Daesh campaign in Iraq and Syria.
These steps include the recapture of several important cities across the two countries, including Ramadi in Iraq and al-Shadadi, a town in northeastern Syria previously considered a strategic Daesh stronghold.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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