Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi reaffirmed their commitment to degrading and ultimately defeating Daesh.
“Both leaders expressed hopes that this productive meeting would lay the foundation for further cooperation between the armed services of the U.S. and Iraq,” said a Department of Defense statement summarizing the April 14 meeting in Washington.
Carter congratulated al-Obeidi on Iraq’s success against Daesh in retaking Tikrit and reiterated United States support for Iraqi-led counterterrorism efforts.
The defense leaders also discussed how the United States can best assist and support Iraqi security forces.
Daesh has lost some 25 percent to 30 percent of the Iraqi territory it once occupied as a result of coordinated efforts between the global anti-Daesh coalition and Iraqi security forces.
*Updated on April 23.