US Pentagon chief arrives in Bahdahd on unannounced visit

BAGHDAD, July 11 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter arrived in Baghdad Monday on an unannounced visit.
Carter is expected to hold talks with Iraqi leaders topped by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on beefing up Iraqi forces to counter and defeat the so-called Islamic State (IS), Iraqi government sources told KUNA.
Carter's visit comes followig the Iraqi Army's achievments in liberating Falluja and the newly-retaken air base in Qayyara as Iraqi security forces move forward in the long-awaited battle to re-capture Mosul from Islamic State militants.
Earlier, Carter said the U.S. is considering a number of options, including more airstrikes, cyberattacks and mobilizing more troops on the ground. (end) ahh.ha