WASHINGTON
Daesh's momentum in Iraq has been halted, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday.
"It's not over yet," according to Biden, but unlike eight months ago, when the terror group was on the offensive in Iraq, today Daesh "has lost large areas that it used to dominate.”
Although it still holds vast territory in Iraq and Syria, Iraqi government-commanded ground forces, backed by U.S. coalition airstrikes, have degraded the power of the group, and Tikrit is now freed from Daesh, he said.
Biden's speech comes a week before Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is scheduled to visit the White House and the fight against Daesh is expected to be the main topic when Obama and Abadi meet.
Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish groups united against the militants in Iraq and were able to form an inclusive government, Biden said.
After winning back Tikrit, more than 10,000 tribal fighters in Iraq backed Iraqi troops and U.S coalition air forces fighting Daesh in Anbar province.
Clashes between Iraqi forces and Daesh have been ongoing since last June when the armed group seized Mosul and much of northern and western Iraq.
The U.S. currently leads a coalition of about 60 countries against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Measures include airstrikes, and a train and equip missions for local forces.
