BAGHDAD, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter made an unannounced visit to Iraq Saturday as U.S.-backed forces are moving to take back Mosul from Islamic State militants.
Carter, in his third visit to Iraq this year, arrived as the battle to remove the IS from its last major stronghold in Iraq enters the sixth day. Officials said Iraqi and Kurdish forces are moving in on Mosul while about 5,000 U.S. troops are assisting to eliminate the militant group, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh.