US President Joe Biden is set to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Washington later this month, the Associated Press reported.
Earlier, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Biden “hopes to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Iraq on political, economic and security issues, including joint efforts to ensure the final defeat” of the Islamic State militant group (banned in Russia).
It is noted that the meeting will mark a turning point in US-Iraqi relations amid growing concerns of the White House about the increasing attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria. Earlier it became known that unknown persons launched about 14 missiles at an airbase in western Iraq, where the American military contingent is stationed.
The AP stressed that since Biden took over as head of state, at least eight drone attacks against the US military contingent, as well as 17 missile attacks, have been carried out in Iraq. Iranian-backed militants were blamed for the attacks.