VIDEO: US Secretary of Defense awards four Peshmerga fighters

The United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on Sunday arrived in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on Sunday arrived in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

Carter was welcomed by the Region’s President Masoud Barzani at Erbil International Airport.

Secretary Carter is expected to meet with President Barzani and other Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials.

A Kurdistan24 reporter revealed Carter awarded four Peshmerga fighters with medals for their bravery.

Additionally, the Secretary of Defense praised the role of the Kurdish forces in the war against the Islamic State (IS), adding that “with their bravery, Peshmerga forces have recorded victory.”

Secretary Carter arrived in Baghdad on Sunday for an unannounced visit and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The pair discussed the ongoing military operation in Mosul, the re-stabilization of the liberated areas, and training and arming of the Iraqi security forces.

According to a statement from the Iraqi PM’s office, Abadi said the Mosul operation was going smoothly in all front lines.

The PM explained the Iraqi security forces were committed to protecting the lives of civilians, stating the military victory against IS was close.

Moreover, Carter reiterated the support of the US and the international community to Iraq in its war against terror, and the continuous support to rebuild the liberated areas, the statement added.

[The moment Peshmerga fighters get awarded by the US Secretary of Defense]

 

[VIDEO-Kurdish: The Kurdistan Region President welcomes US Secretary of Defense at Erbil International Airport]

 

 

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany