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US strategy on Iraq "not yet complete" - Obama | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The US does not yet have a "complete strategy" for helping Iraq regain territory from Islamic State (IS), President Barack Obama has said. | The US does not yet have a "complete strategy" for helping Iraq regain territory from Islamic State (IS), President Barack Obama has said. |
He said the Pentagon was reviewing ways to help Iraq train and equip its forces. | He said the Pentagon was reviewing ways to help Iraq train and equip its forces. |
But Mr Obama said a full commitment to the process was needed by the Iraqis themselves. | |
He had earlier met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Germany. | He had earlier met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Germany. |
IS has recently made gains in Iraq despite US-led coalition air strikes. | IS has recently made gains in Iraq despite US-led coalition air strikes. |
In May the militants seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, Iraq's largest province, as well as the Syrian town of Tadmur and the neighbouring ancient ruins of Palmyra. | In May the militants seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, Iraq's largest province, as well as the Syrian town of Tadmur and the neighbouring ancient ruins of Palmyra. |
US officials cited a lack of training as a major factor in the fall of Ramadi. | US officials cited a lack of training as a major factor in the fall of Ramadi. |
But Mr Obama said that the 3,000 US service personnel in Iraq sometimes found themselves with "more training capacity than we've got recruits". | But Mr Obama said that the 3,000 US service personnel in Iraq sometimes found themselves with "more training capacity than we've got recruits". |
"We don't have, yet, a complete strategy, because it requires commitments on the part of Iraqis as well about how recruitment takes place, how that training takes place," Mr Obama told a news conference. | |
"We want to get more Iraqi security forces trained, fresh, well-equipped and focused and (Mr) Abadi wants the same thing so we're reviewing a range of plans for how we might do that." | |
Mr Obama said all countries in the international coalition were ready to do more to help train Iraqi security forces. | |
Earlier, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain was sending an extra 125 military trainers to Iraq. | Earlier, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain was sending an extra 125 military trainers to Iraq. |
Last month, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the loss of Ramadi was, in part, due to the Iraqis' lack of a "will to fight". | Last month, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the loss of Ramadi was, in part, due to the Iraqis' lack of a "will to fight". |
Iraq has become increasingly reliant on Iranian-backed Shia militias to take on IS in recent months. | Iraq has become increasingly reliant on Iranian-backed Shia militias to take on IS in recent months. |
The move has raised fears of worsening sectarian tensions as the militias try to drive the jihadist fighters out of predominantly Sunni areas like Anbar. | The move has raised fears of worsening sectarian tensions as the militias try to drive the jihadist fighters out of predominantly Sunni areas like Anbar. |