Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today welcomed Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Raymond Odierno, who is visiting to assess firsthand the status of the fight against ISIS terrorists and the cooperation between the Peshmerga, the coalition forces and the Iraqi forces.

General Odierno commended the bravery of the peshmerga forces and expressed his condolences for the fallen peshmerga. He stated that the United States would continue its support for the peshmerga and Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS terrorists, adding that it would also work to further streamline its support and coordination with the peshmerga forces.

President Barzani said that defeating ISIS terrorists calls for a joint effort and that in parallel to the military effort, there is also a need for a realistic political and security solution in the country.

The two sides discussed the requirements of the peshmerga forces and ways of bolstering cooperation and coordination among the peshmerga, the Iraqi security forces, and the coalition forces.