Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al Obeidi on Friday paid visits to the southern Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf.

During the visits, Obeidi met with Shiite clerics and briefed them on reforms adopted by the Iraqi army as well as the military operations against Daesh terrorist group.

Obeidi assured the clerics that the Iraqi Armed Forces will witness great developments, his media adviser Naseer Nouri told MENA correspondent in Baghdad Friday.

The clerics, for their part, stressed the importance of supporting the army for the stability and security of the country, Nouri added.

Iraq has been in turmoil since the ouster of Saddam Hussein during the US invasion of the country nearly 13 years ago.

Source: MENA