US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis arrives in Baghdad

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad today on an unannounced visit to speak with Iraqi leaders about the next steps in the fight against Islamic State terror group.

His visit comes just two days after Iraqi security forces launched an offensive to take back the city of Tal Afar which



is the last major bastion of the Islamic State terror group in the north of the country.

Mattis said he wants to help keep the regime focused on eradicating IS terrorists. Mattis said days of IS are certainly numbered, but he warned that the end of the militant group is far from close.