By Byron Tau

WASHINGTON—The White House on Tuesday pledged more than $200 million in humanitarian aid to Iraq to help offset the consequences of the battle against Islamic State militants.

Speaking in the Oval Office on alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, President Barack Obama said the continuing conflict with Islamic State fighters had real human consequences on children and families across Iraq.

Mr. Obama said serious progress has been made in rolling back the gains of Islamic State militants and vowed the U.S. and Iraq would be successful in defeating the terrorist group.

The president also praised strides Iraq has had made in unifying the country’s three major sectarian and ethnic groups. Sunnis and Kurds feel like they have a voice in the government of a state that is majority Shiite, the president said.

Mr. Abadi acknowledged human rights abuses had taken place in Iraq but described the perpetrators as criminals and outliers.

The prime minister vowed to unify all Iraqi forces fighting against Islamic State under the government’s banner and bring perpetrators of any human rights abuses to justice.

U.S. officials have put pressure on Iraq not to use Shiite Militias that aren't under the direct control of the central government as part of the campaign against Islamic State.

Mr. Abadi also warned the international community against intervention without the government’s permission, telling other countries to respect Iraq’s sovereignty.

Wall Street Journal