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BAGHDAD, March 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Tuesday, nearly 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion
"I think that Iraqi leaders share our interest in Iraq not becoming a playground for conflict between the United States and Iran," a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. Austin met Sudani and president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, amid a long-running dispute over budget transfers and oil revenue sharing between the national government and Erbil, as well as the lingering acrimony between the two main Kurdish parties running the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.
By Idrees Ali and Amina Ismail
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit to Iraq, where he reaffirmed the United States's long-term commitment in the region.
Trip aims to support Al Sudani’s push back against Iranian influence in country — experts