US Defense Secretary in Baghdad as Iraqi troops capture important airbase from ISIS

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter arrived in Baghdad on Monday to meet the Iraqi leadership and discuss the ongoing war against Islamic State (ISIS) militants and Iraqi efforts to recapture Mosul from the group. 

“What I’ll be discussing with Prime Minister [Haider al-] Abadi and our commanders there are the next plays in the campaign, which involve the collapse and control over Mosul,” Carter told reporters on his way to the country. 

While the US hopes to help bring about “the recapture of all of the Iraqi territory by the Iraqi security forces” Carter emphasized that “Mosul is the biggest part of that” goal.

Carter’s trip comes shortly after the Iraqi military successfully recaptured the Qayara airbase from ISIS on Saturday, a strategically important base which sits a mere 35 miles south of Mosul. 

 

The US defense chief was quoted by Iraqi media saying that the newly captured Qayara air base will be used by coalition and Iraqi forces to carry out attacks against ISIS in Mosul.

ISIS has occupied Mosul since June 2014. 

The US provides Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting ISIS air support and training. Approximately 4,000 US troops are in Iraq to train allied forces. 

Aside from meeting Prime Minister Abadi Carter will meet Iraq’s Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi and US soldiers, including the Baghdad-based Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland. 

In addition Carter will telephone the president of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani to discuss these issues. 

 

The Kurdish Peshmerga will help the Iraqis in their recapture of Mosul by securing areas to the city’s north, but are not expected to enter the city itself.