US Defense Secretary Ash Carter made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Monday to meet US military commanders and Iraqi officials, as Washington seeks to capitalize on the recent seizure of a major airbase close to Mosul, the largest Iraqi city still controlled by the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.
US officials said Carter would meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obaidi, as well as US Army Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, the head of the US-led coalition battling IS in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
Iraqi government forces said on Saturday they took back control of the Qayara airbase, 60 km south of Mosul.
