U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has launched a series of talks with Iraqi officials Friday during a one-day visit to Baghdad to underscore U.S. support for the government as it addresses security, economic and political challenges.
Kerry traveled to Iraq from Bahrain on a previously unannounced trip that marks his first visit to Baghdad since 2014.
The United States, which withdrew its forces from Iraq in 2011, has redeployed several thousand troops as part of a coalition it is leading against Islamic State. In the past two weeks, Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led coalition air strikes have retaken significant parts of Hit, a town 130 km (80 miles) northwest of Baghdad.
However, an offensive billed as the first phase of a campaign to recapture the northern city of Mosul has been put on hold until reinforcements arrive to hold ground, the commander of the operation said on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Defense Department announced it would open an additional small military outpost.
“There may be a situation in which there is another base that is opened or reopened from years past that would be used … as a fire support base behind the front lines,” said Rear Admiral Andrew Lewis, the vice director of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff Operations.
Separately, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph Dunford and Defense Secretary Ash Carter are expected to request more U.S. troops to fight Islamic State militants.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said last week that U.S. President Barack Obama would give “careful consideration” to that recommendation.
Kerry also plans talks with the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, the State Department said.

Source: news agencies, April 8, 2016