WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016 — Defense Secretary Ash Carter today discussed the effort to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant with his British and French counterparts on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.
In a statement summarizing the meeting, Cook said Carter, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed the latest progress in the counter-ISIL campaign in Iraq and Syria.
“The secretary thanked Secretary Fallon and Minister Le Drian for their countries’ generous contributions to the counter-ISIL campaign, while emphasizing that all coalition partners must continue to accelerate their efforts in Iraq and Syria,” the press secretary said. The defense leaders also discussed recent progress against ISIL in Libya, and agreed on the importance of supporting the Government of National Accord, he added.
In addition, Carter thanked Fallon and Le Drian for their words of condolence in the wake of the June 123 tragedy in Orlando, Florida, Cook said.