Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi today during his final visit to Baghdad as secretary of defense. The productive meeting focused on the military campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat, and Secretary Carter complimented the prime minister on the performance of Iraqi Security Forces in the ongoing fight for Mosul.
The two discussed the next steps in the Mosul operation including the need to continue the close cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Secretary Carter thanked Prime Minister Abadi for nearly two years of a close personal partnership, and noted the continued supporting role the United States and Counter-ISIL Coalition can play in Iraq's efforts to destroy ISIL. The two agreed that there will still be work to rid Iraq of ISIL after the liberation of Mosul, and that a strong U.S.-Iraq partnership is critical to finish ISIL and address the security challenges that follow.