WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — "They also agreed that the training of local police forces will be a critical need as the fight against ISIL [Islamic State] advances," the release stated.
Carter and Abadi also discussed the next steps in the anti-Islamic State campaign, and the upcoming defense ministers’ meeting of all 26 nations plus Iraq in Brussels next month that are fighting the terror group, the Defense Department added.
On Wednesday, US Army Secretary nominee Eric Fanning said some 4,500 US troops are serving in Iraq at present.
In recent months, several Republican US presidential candidates have advocated increasing the US presence in Iraq to at least 10,000 troops.
