WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama met with his national security team to discuss the US strategy to counter the Islamic State (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria amid the capture of Ramadi by the terrorist group, the White House National Security Council (NSC) announced via Twitter.
POTUS met today w/his National Security Council to discuss situation in #Iraq & our strategy to counter threat posed by ISIL in Iraq & Syria
— WH National Security (@NSCPress) May 19, 2015
POTUS reaffirmed strong US support for @HaiderAlAbadi efforts and welcomed decision today by Iraqi Council of Ministers
— WH National Security (@NSCPress) May 19, 2015
The White House NSC also said that Obama reaffirmed “the US commitment to the government of Iraq and the Iraqi people” in the fight against the Islamic State.
Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi Council of Ministers agreed to accelerate the training and equipping of local tribes, expanding recruitment into the Iraqi army, training local police and developing a plan to take back Ramadi with all associated forces acting under Iraqi command, according to the White House.
"The President was briefed on the latest developments in Iraq and our support to the Iraqi security forces and local tribal fighters responding to the situation in Anbar province,” the White House noted.
Top Obama administration officials, including US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Susan Rice, as well as more than 20 other advisors attended the meeting on Tuesday.
Islamic State militants are actively using US military equipment, such as small arms and Humvee vehicles, which they had seized from fleeing Iraqi forces.
The terrorist group's positions across Iraq and Syria have been targeted by US-led Coalition airstrikes since the summer 2014.
