Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, called on the United States and the international coalition to assume a greater role in combating ISIS, which he said was still active in various regions in western Iraq.
His comments came during a meeting on Sunday with the new commander of the US Central Command (Centcom), General Michael Kurilla, in Baghdad.
A statement by the premier’s office said that the two officials discussed bilateral security and military cooperation, the ongoing war on terrorism, and the latest operations of the Iraqi armed forces against ISIS remnants.
In this regard, Kadhimi underlined the importance of maintaining the momentum in the war on terrorism and preventing ISIS cells from growing and thus jeopardizing the security of Iraqis and the region.
Kurilla, for his part, commended the combat skills of the Iraqi security forces and their capacity to implement their new field missions and exploit the full potential of the Iraqi air forces.
Meanwhile, Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov emphasized the “commitment” of the international coalition to support the Iraqi armed forces in their war against terrorism.
Bodskov met on Monday in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, Juma Inad Saadoun, to discuss bilateral relations and joint cooperation in a number of military, technical and other fields.
A statement by the Iraqi Defense Ministry said that the Danish minister expressed his “appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Iraqis in their battles against terrorism and the challenges facing the country,” stressing “the commitment of the international coalition to support the Iraqi armed forces in their war against terrorism.”
In this context, Dr. Hussein Allawi, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Security Sector Reform, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iraqi-international defense relations were remarkably improving under Kadhimi’s government, through bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, exchange of information, and joint exercises.
