Al- Obaidi meets Carter on April 15, 2015.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Iraqi Minister of Defense Khalid Al-Obeidi met at the Pentagon on April 15, 2015 to discuss bilateral cooperation and progress in the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) campaign in Iraq.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to “degrading and ultimately defeating ISIL, focusing on next steps in the effort…”
Secretary Carter congratulated Minister al-Obeidi on Iraq’s “successful retaking of Tikrit, and reiterated the department’s strong support for Iraqi-led counter-ISIL efforts. ”
Secretary Carter also emphasized the importance of inclusive governance and respect for local populations in Tikrit and all areas liberated from ISIL control.
Secretary Carter and Minister al-Obeidi coordinated views on current U.S. equipping efforts and discussed how the U.S. can best support the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and Sunni tribal fighters.
Both leaders expressed hopes that this productive meeting would lay the foundation for further cooperation between the armed services of the U.S. and Iraq.”
Source: Pentagon
Note: The fighting in Tikrit was particular intense.
See video: Iraqi forces pound ISIS targets in Tikrit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkbWgMxGa-I
See video: In battle with ISIS: Tikrit combat footage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR-EUfS2Qs4
When Iraqi forces closed in on the enemy they often times blew themselves up.
See related video: ISIS Terrorists Blow Themselves up on Iraqi forces near TikrIT HD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXc-HUdhb0E
See video: Irak – Tikrit – Grandes Combates del Ejército Iraquí contra el Estado Islámico – 7 Marzo 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnQAzoClYaU
Note Iraqi Minister of Defense Khalid Al-Obeidi is a key player in the fight against ISIL in Iraq. He is suspected of working very closely, behind the scenes with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier-General Hossein Dehqan of efforts to destroy ISIL apart from the United States. See report: Iraq keen on cooperation with Iran in campaign against terrorism http://theiranproject.com/blog/2014/12/31/iraq-keen-on-cooperation-with-iran-in-campaign-against-terrorism/