Pentagon chief, in Baghdad, says militants are 'on the run'
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August 23, 2017
BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday he is confident that U.S.-backed Iraqi forces will finish off the Islamic State militants clinging to strongholds that are shrinking in size and number.
"ISIS is on the run," Mattis told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other Iraqi government leaders. "They have been shown to be unable to stand up to our team in combat."
Mattis spoke alongside Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, who is due to finish his tour of duty here in early September.
"The fighting is tough," Townsend said,...
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