Biden: Islamic State brought Iraq leaders together in common fight
The Islamic State brought Iraqi leaders together in a common fight since the militant group declared a "caliphate" in northern Iraq last summer, US Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday.
Biden gave an upbeat assessment of Iraq's progress against the Sunni group in an address to the National Defense University before a White House meeting next week between US President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi.
"ISIL's momentum in Iraq has halted and in many places flat out reversed," Biden said, using an acronym for the group.
"There's still a long fight ahead," Biden said, but the group's "aura of invincibility" has been pierced.
