WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The meeting with al-Jabouri, a Sunni Arab, comes as the White House announced on Wednesday the United States would send an additional 450 trainers and expedite delivery of weapons to Sunni tribes in the Anbar province.
“They reaffirmed the enduring partnership between both countries and discussed ongoing US and Iraqi efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL [Islamic State], including the importance of mobilizing local tribal fighters in support of the Iraqi government’s Anbar liberation plan,” a readout of the Friday meeting said.
The Islamic State has recently made gains in Anbar, including the capture of the provincial capital Ramadi in May 2015.
Many Sunnis are weary of the largely Shia Iraqi Army and government Shia militias retaking Sunni dominated areas like Anbar. The US and Iraqi government are working to create a local, Sunni force to counter the Islamic State.
