Iraq News

Pompeo meets Iraq officials on unannounced Baghdad visit

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Iraqi officials on an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Wednesday (January 9th), AFP reported.

In Baghdad, Pompeo met a raft of senior officials including Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh.

Pompeo ducked reporters' shouted questions about US pullout plans, but Saleh replied that Baghdad wanted Washington to remain engaged.

"We will need the support of the US," he said, expressing "gratitude to the US for support over the years".

The "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) "is defeated militarily, but (the) mission is not accomplished", Saleh added.

Pompeo was in the Middle East to urge allies to continue to confront the "significant threats" posed by Iran and ISIS.

He flew in to Baghdad from Amman and was also due to visit Cairo, Manama, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat and Kuwait City on his longest trip since taking office last year.

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