U.S. and Iraqi Defense officials met to discuss sale of 18 F-16 fighter jets at meetings in the past three days, according to U.S. Defense Department on Thursday.

The meetings took place at the Pentagon, and the government of Iraq "reconfirmed its interest in purchasing a second set of 18 F-16s and the United States reconfirmed its commitment to the sale," in addition to an initial purchase of 18 F-16 aircraft in September 2011.

The F-16s and other military equipment will "help protect Iraq's sovereignty, meet legitimate defense needs and symbolize the long-term security partnership envisioned by both countries," according to a Pentagon statement.

The meetings from Tuesday to Thursday, were the first of the Defense and Security Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) under the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) framework. They followed a meeting with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Acting Iraqi Minister of Defense Saadoun Al-Dlimi, and were co-chaired by the Iraqi acting minister of defense and by the U.S. Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller, and Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Miller.

The Pentagon said the discussions were held on a number of items of mutual interest, including future sales of military equipment, joint military exercises, and Iraq's strategy to ensure its future stability and security. The United States also reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Iraq's stability through the training, equipping, and enhancing the capacity of Iraq's armed forces for defense against external threats and for counterterrorism.

Defense and security is one of the eight areas of cooperation agreed upon by Iraq and the United States under the 2008 SFA. The next meeting of the Defense and Security Joint Coordinating Committee will be hosted by Iraq in Baghdad this fall. The Pentagon said the purpose of the second meeting will be to "build upon the foundation laid out this week, and continue discussions on strengthening defense and security cooperation."

The United States has agreed to sell 36 F-16 jets to Baghdad in a multi-billion-dollar deal aimed at increasing the capabilities of Iraq's fledgling air force, but the autonomous region of Kurdistan has opposed to the sale, saying Prime Minster Nuri al- Maliki could use the jets against the region.

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