By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
June 4, 2015
WASHINGTON — President Obama will meet on Monday with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq to discuss the military campaign against the Islamic State, White House officials said on Thursday, as the militant group continues to make gains despite an American-led counteroffensive.
The two men met at the White House in April, but this will be Mr. Obama’s first opportunity to sit down with Mr. Abadi since the Islamist militants took control of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province, raising new questions about the ability of Iraqi forces to counter the Islamic State and prompting pleas from the prime minister for more American help.
At a meeting in Paris this week of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State, Mr. Abadi said that the group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, is stronger, better equipped, more lethal and more organized than ever, and that the United States-led air campaign against it is “not enough.” He said that Iraq needed more intelligence and surveillance from the United States, as well as help obtaining more arms.
On Monday in Krün, Germany, Mr. Abadi will join a meeting of the Group of 7 major industrialized democracies for a session on terrorism, Benjamin J. Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser to Mr. Obama, said on Thursday.
Graphic | ISIS Advances Toward Aleppo Islamic State fighters came within several miles of a crucial supply route between Aleppo and Turkey.
“This is an opportunity for the leaders of some of the key coalition countries to sit down with Prime Minister Abadi to affirm the importance of continuing our efforts to degrade ISIL,” Mr. Rhodes said.
Mr. Obama will hold a separate meeting with Mr. Abadi to discuss the campaign, Mr. Rhodes said, adding that the White House did not expect any announcements on help for the Iraqis to come out of the session.
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(via NY Times)
