The United States and Iraq reaffirmed their attachment to a strong partnership that will enable the Iraqis to deal ISIS a lasting defeat, said the US department of Defense in statement on Wednesday.

During a phone call between Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Iraqi Defense Minister Arfan al-Hayali, the two parties reiterated their commitment to a continued U.S.-Iraq cooperation and a strong partnership that will enable the Iraqis to deal ISIS a lasting defeat, it said.

On this occasion, Secretary Mattis congratulated Minister Hayali on his new position and praised the Iraqis’ hard-won gains against ISIS- most recently in eastern Mosul.

They also discussed planning for operations to liberate western Mosul, the same source added.

Source :Morocco World News