The Hill – 10/20/15– The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is dismissing reports that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi wants Russia to conduct air strikes in his country against terror groups.
Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford told reporters on Tuesday that Iraqi leaders told the U.S. that no Russian strikes have been requested, according to The Associated Press.
Dunford landed in Iraq on Tuesday as part of his first trip abroad since taking over as Joint Chiefs chairman at the beginning of the month.
Dunford also said he wants updates on battles in Beiji and Ramadi during his Iraq visit. Last week.
Ramadi is still under the control of ISIS.
Dunford also met with the head of Iraq’s Kurdish regional government, President Massoud Barzani.
“I am new in my job, and one of the first things I wanted to do was come over here and see you,” Dunford told Barzani, according to the AP. “As you know, we have a common enemy.”
On his way to Iraq, Dunford also stopped in Jordan and Israel, where defense aid talks resumed for the first time since the Iran nuclear deal was finalized.