(VOVworld) – US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford arrived in Iraq on Tuesday to assess the fight against Islamic State militants.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to journalists while flying to Erbil, Iraq, on Tuesday. (Photo: Associated Press )

This was Dunford’s first visit to Iraq since he took up his post earlier this month. Speaking to the press following his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi, Mr. Dunford said the two sides agreed to discuss with US officials about choosing a commander who can talk to every faction in Iraq during the operations of the US-led military alliance against IS. The move will promote closer cooperation between Iraqi security forces, the autonomous Kurdistan region and Sunni Muslims. Mr. Dunford also asked Iraqi consultants and senior commanders to make proposals to help the military alliance accelerate the campaign against IS.