Iraqi PM hails UK's help in fighting ISIL

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British Prime Minister Theresa May met with her Iraqi counterpart Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad on Wednesday, her first visit to Iraq since coming to power last year.

“Iraqi-British relations have witnessed an improvement, especially in the field of counter terrorism,” state television quoted Abadi as saying.

Britain has also helped Iraq on the issue of internally displaced persons as a result of an ISIL takeover in various parts of the country and the subsequent campaign by Iraqi forces to dislodge Sunni militants, he said.

"We will continue to support Iraq in various fields," May was quoted as saying.

"We look forward to building a continuing relationship between Iraq and Britain."

The British government said in September that there were around 600 British soldiers on the ground in Iraq.

They are primarily involved in training Iraqi security forces in battle winning infantry, engineering and combat medical techniques, as well as providing courses on countering improvised explosive devices and other skills.

Britain has provided over 1,400 military personnel as part of its three-year involvement in the US-led global coalition against ISIL.

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Source(s): Reuters