General Mattis: The U.S. Will Not Control Iraq's Oil

General James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, who made an unexpected trip to Baghdad, stated that the U.S. military is not present in Iraq to 'control the oil of this country.' Previously, it was reported that Donald Trump, the President of the United States, had said that the U.S. should take control of Iraq's oil wells. Mattis, who arrived in Iraq on Monday, expressed hope to gain firsthand insight into the war in Iraq. He made these remarks as Iraqi forces were attempting to retake western Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS). According to Reuters, during his visit to Iraq, the Secretary of Defense may face questions regarding Trump's statements and actions, including the U.S. efforts to control Iraq's oil and the travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iraq. Mattis called for the exemption of Iraqis who work with the U.S. military in Iraq from the travel ban. He stated that he is unaware of any new executive order that may be in preparation but is confident that steps will be taken to allow those who fight alongside the U.S. to enter the United States. Mattis's presence in Iraq is described as a step to intensify the fight against the Islamic State, which was a key part of Donald Trump's campaign promises. A day before his visit, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of ground operations against western Mosul, where ISIS militants are besieged by the Iraqi army. It is estimated that 650,000 civilians in the area are also under siege. ISIS militants were driven out of eastern Mosul last month after 100 days of fighting. The U.S. has stated that Washington-backed forces will retake both Mosul and Raqqa in Syria, the main base of ISIS, within the next six months. General Mattis indicated that he is seeking firsthand assessment of the war in Iraq during his visit. According to Reuters, the assessment by the U.S. Secretary of Defense may pave the way for the deployment of more U.S. military forces to Iraq. Currently, there are fewer than 6,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria.