AFP, BAGHDAD: US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter visited Baghdad Monday for talks on stepping up the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq, where Washington has deployed troops to fight the jihadists.
His visit comes after a week of political turmoil that has been a setback for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the US defence chief has previously stressed the need to support the embattled premier.
The United States heads an international coalition that is carrying out strikes against IS and also providing training and other assistance to forces fighting the jihadists in both Iraq and neighbouring Syria.