Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Secretary Carter’s Phone Call with Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi
Dec. 19, 2015

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi today during his visit to the USS Kearsarge to express his condolences on the unfortunate loss of Iraqi Security Forces on the front lines of the fight against ISIL. Secretary Carter noted that the United States takes great measures to protect partner forces, and confirmed that the incident is being jointly investigated. The secretary and the prime minister committed to work together to prevent such incidents in the future and to ensure that this incident is not exploited by those who wish to create divisions between the United States and Iraq. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S-Iraq partnership and to continued cooperation in the fight against ISIL.