BAGHDAD, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived here Tuesday on an unannounced visit to meet with Iraqi leaders over the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group in the Tal Afar area, the Iraqi official television reported.

Mattis is expected to meet with top Iraqi officials and military commanders to discuss bilateral relations and the offensive against the IS group in the town of Tal Afar, the state-run Iraqiya channel said without giving further details.

Hundreds of U.S. troops are already in Iraq, serving as trainers and advisers, in an attempt to help the country win the battle against IS militants in the country's northern province of Nineveh, where Tal Afar is located.

The U.S.-led international coalition has also been conducting air raids against IS targets in both Iraq and Syria.

Mattis' visit came as the Iraqi security forces backed by the anti-IS international coalition are carrying out a major offensive to drive out the IS militants from their last stronghold in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh. Enditem

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)