British Prime Minister Theresa May paid a surprise visit on Wednesday (November 29th) to Baghdad where she met her Iraqi counterpart Haider al-Abbadi and praised the country's efforts to battle the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), AFP reported.

May's visit came after Iraqi forces backed by an international coalition including Britain, ousted ISIS from swathes of Iraq it had controlled since 2014.

May praised "the bravery and sacrifice of the Iraqi security forces" and pledged British support "for as long as the Iraqis want and need it".

She told a press conference in Baghdad that Britain would "work with partners across the region to develop the capabilities that will enable us to deal with the threat posed by foreign fighters".

May also pledged funds to continue training Iraqi forces and to support "efforts to return [displaced people] and restore stability".

Al-Abbadi said that the leaders had discussed "encouraging British businessmen and businesses to invest... in Iraq, to take part in building Iraq and bringing stability" to the country.