IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has visited Irbil for a closer assessment of the fight against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq and to hear from Kurdish leaders whose forces launched a new offensive in the operation to wrest Mosul from the militants.
Carter met with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, as well as U.S. service members, who are not far from the battle. The Pentagon chief said Barzani reported some good news about gains by the Kurdish forces, known as Peshmerga, in Bashiqa, about 15 miles northeast of Mosul.
Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told reporters that the information he’s gathered suggests Barzani was correct and that there has been “considerable success” in the town.
Townsend said he didn’t know whether any fighting was still going on in the town center and whether every house had been cleared, but he largely confirmed the peshmerga’s success and said the Kurdish forces merit recognition for their success.