We're not in Iraq to seize anyone's oil, told the head of the Pentagon James Mattis during his unannounced visit to Iraq, which took place on the second day of military operation aimed to liberate the western districts of Mosul from the Islamic State, reports Voice of America.
“All of us in America have generally paid for our gas and oil all along, and I'm sure that we will continue to do so in the future. We're not in Iraq to seize anyone's oil,” said Mattis.
The visiting program of Mattis in Iraq includes meetings with the Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other officials, as well as Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, who commands the coalition headed by the United States at war with the IS.
On January 28, the US president Donald Trump instructed Mattis to develop a plan on activating the fight against the IS and submit it to the President within 30 days.
