The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, discussed with Iraqi officials on Monday the fighting taking place against the Takfiri group, ISIL.

The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, discussed with Iraqi officials on Monday the fighting taking place against the Takfiri group, ISIL.

Dempsey met with both Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled Obeidi.

During the meeting with Dempsey, Abadi stressed that preventing the Takfiri terrorists from infiltrating into Iraq and stop funding them would enable Baghdad to crush ISIL.

Abadi meanwhile praised the Iraqi army and the popular mobilization forces for their victories against ISIL.

On the other hand, and in a joint press conference with Dempsey, Obeidi praised Iran’s “very positive role’’ in Iraq.

He said his government was comfortable asking for and receiving help from Iran in its fight against the Takfiri militants.

“We have solicited help from many of the countries that we have a strategic relationship with,” he said.

“We appreciate all this help. We are in a state of war and we look to our friends to help us in this confrontation,” he added.

“But I think the situation is balanced,” with regard to partnering with Iran and the United States.
“The situation is acceptable to us,” he added.

On his part, Dempsey said that in military terms the campaign against ISIL is “on path.”

He added that he was not sure how to assess the Iraqi government’s intentions on its relationship with Iran and other issues.
Iran’s “dominance in Baghdad upsets predominantly Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” Dempsey said.

He also noted that Abadi plans to visit Washington in April.