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BAGHDAD, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on Sunday in Baghdad to discuss Iraqi forces' efforts in driving out Islamic State (IS) militants from their stronghold in Iraq's northern city of Mosul.
A statement issued by Abadi's office said that Abadi met with Carter in his office in Baghdad's Green Zone. The two discussed the battle in Mosul, and reviewed the training and arming of Iraqi forces.
Abadi also confirmed that "the military operations in Mosul are going on as planned, and victory over Daesh gangs (IS group) is coming soon," the statement said.
Carter reaffirmed his country's support along with that of the international community's to Iraq in its fight against terrorism, according to the statement.
The Pentagon chief is scheduled to fly to northern Iraq to meet with Masoud Barzani, President of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.
Carter arrived in Baghdad for an unannounced visit to meet with top Iraqi officials and military commanders to discuss the Iraqi offensive against IS militants in Mosul.
Hundreds of U.S. troops are already in Iraq serving as trainers and advisers, in an effort to help Iraq win the battle against IS militants in the country's northern city of Mosul.
In addition, the U.S.-led international coalition has been conducting air raids against IS targets in both Iraq and Syria.
Carter's visit comes as Iraqi security forces backed by the anti-IS coalition are carrying out a major offensive to drive out IS militants from their last major stronghold in and around Mosul in northern Iraq.
On Oct. 17, Abadi, also Commander-in-Chief of Iraqi forces, announced the major offensive to reclaim Mosul, the country's second largest city.
Mosul, 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their posts and weapons and fled, hence enabling IS militants to gain control over parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.
