Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp,org)- President Masoud Barzani met with the United States Secretary of Defense, Mr. Ashton Carter in Erbil today. President Barzani and Secretary Carter began their meeting by assessing the progress made by the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military against the terrorists of the Islamic State. President Barzani expressed his satisfaction on the coordination and cooperation between the United States government and the Kurdistan Region and emphasized on the importance of the continuation of that coordination.

The two also discussed the current state of the Peshmerga forces. Secretary Carter stated that the United States will continue to support the Peshmerga forces as they continue their efforts against the Islamic State terrorists, to which President Barzani reiterated the Kurdistan Region's appreciation for that support. Secretary Carter also stated that the war against the Islamic State is indeed being fought by the Iraqi forces, the Peshmerga forces and the international coalition "on behalf of civilization."

President Barzani and Secretary Carter discussed other previous, current and future military operations against the Islamic State terrorists.