US defense secretary arrives in Baghdad on unannounced visit

By Abdul-Jabbar Aburas

​​​​​​​BAGHDAD (AA) - US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday on an unannounced visit.

“I’m here, to reaffirm the US-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq,” the Pentagon chief tweeted.

According to US media, the visit aims to show that Washington is committed to maintaining its military presence in Iraq.

On Sunday, Austin arrived in Jordan on the first leg of a regional tour that also includes Israel and Egypt.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat in Ankara