More efforts needed to eliminate IS in Mosul - Mattis

IRBIL, Aug 22 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of Defense James said Tuesday that further efforts are needed to eliminate the so-called Islamic State (IS) entirely from the city of Mosul.
Terrorism is an ongoing and unlimited threat, Mattis said during his meeting with President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani and a number of Kurdish officials.
On the Kurdish public independence referendum, slated for September 25, Mattis voiced his country's concern over the process, adding that it was beyond Washington's expectations.
Such a process would put an obstacle in the war against IS and create problems for the anti-terror joint action, the US secretary said, noting that liberating Mosul does not mean the end of IS.
The Kurdish Peshmerga forces have, so far, scored major victories over the terrorist group due to the joint coordination and cooperation with the US-led coalition forces, Mattis noted.
Meanwhile, the US secretary lauded recent talks held between Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, which called for unity across all parties in the country, affirming Washington's support of the two sides' continued cooperation.
For his part, Barzani said that the forthcoming public referendum would not create problems in the war against terrorism, adding the Kurdish people seeks peaceful coexistence away from violence, and continues to exert all efforts, through dialogue with Baghdad, to gain their rights. (end) sbr.ma