US, Iraqi officials discuss security cooperation

WASHINGTON, US and Iraqi officials met Monday at the Pentagon to discuss when and how the mission of the global coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq would end and transition in an orderly manner to an enduring bilateral security partnership. In a press statement following the meeting, the Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue meetings will continue tomorrow and build upon the work of the Higher Military Commission (HMC), which grew out of an April meeting between President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Washington. "Our convening of this dialogue this week reflects both nations' commitment to strengthen the bilateral security relationship based on the work of the HMC over the past several months, and in recognition of the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the Global Coalition's military mission in Iraq," Ryder said. The Higher Military Commission has looked at the state of ISIS operational capabilities, the ca pacity and the capability of Iraqi security forces to address the ISIS threat, Ryder said. The Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue participants "will take information and recommendations from the HMC and be reviewing those this week with an eye towards looking toward the future of the coalition, but then also the bilateral security cooperation between the US and Iraq," the general said. Source: Kuwait News Agency