Kerry Arrives In Iraq To Hold Talks Against ISIL

KABUL: (Middle East Press) Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for top-level talks to form a coalition against the Sunni militants who have seized control of much of northern and western Iraq and to show support for Iraq’s new government.

He will “discuss how the United States can increase its support to Iraq’s new government in our common effort to defeat (ISIL) and the threat that it poses to Iraq, the region, and the world,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

A State Department official travelling with Kerry told reporters that the top US diplomat would also meet with President Fuad Masum, parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi and Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Iraq “will have a critical role in this effort to have a global coalition to begin to corrupt and ultimately defeat” ISIL, the official said.

The plan is intended to rebuild the fighting capability that the Iraqi government lost after much of its army faded away in the face of ISIS’ onslaught.

Saudi Arabia is to host talks on Thursday between Kerry and ministers from 10 Arab states and Turkey on joint action against ISIL.

The talks concur with a much-touted address from President Barack Obama at the White House, where he will outline a strategy to confront ISIL.

Foreign ministers of Gulf states will be among those attending Thursday’s talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah, along with top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq itself.

They will address “terrorism in the region, extremist organizations behind it and means of fighting them,” Saudi state media said.

The Arab League, which has stopped short of overtly backing ongoing US air strikes against ISIL, also drummed up regional support for the fight.

After leaving the Middle East, Mr. Kerry will fly to Paris to attend an international conference on Iraq’s future and the threat posed by ISIS, Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said Wednesday.