Headlines
US vows to help Iraq retake lost territories
Washington, May 26
US Vice President Joseph
Biden has pledged "full support" for Iraqi efforts to retake territories
lost to the Islamic State, as Baghdad bristled at the Pentagon chief's
criticism of Iraqi forces over the battle against the extremist group.
In
a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday ,
Biden reiterated "full US support" for Iraqi liberation efforts,
including "the expedited provision of US training and equipment" to help
combat the Islamic State's use of truck bombs in fighting, Xinhua
reported cited White House statment.
Washington is rushing 1,000
antitank rockets to Baghdad after the Islamic State took full control of
Ramadi, the capital of Iraq 's largest Anbar province in the west, on
May 17 by using suicide vehicle bombs and other means.
US Defence
Secretary Ash Carter on Sunday blamed Ramadi's fall on a lack of will
on the part of the Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State, which has
announced the establishment of a caliphate in areas under its control in
Syria and Iraq.
Al-Abadi told BBC on Monday that he was
"surprised" at Carter's comment, vowing to launch a counter-offensive
soon to take Ramadi back.
"The vice president recognised the
enormous sacrifice and bravery of Iraqi forces over the past 18 months
in Ramadi and elsewhere," the White House said in a statement.
Washington'
current strategy on fighting the Islamic State needs ground operations
by the Iraqi and Kurdish forces in support of the US-led air strikes on
the group's targets