Obama declares ‘major step forward’ in Iraq

President Obama on Monday hailed the capture of the Mosul Dam after U.S. airstrikes, calling it “a major step forward” in the battle against Sunni extremists in Iraq.

“The Mosul Dam fell under terrorist control earlier this month, and is directly tied to our objective of protecting Americans in Iraq,” Obama said at the White House. “If that dam was breached, it could have proven catastrophic, with floods that would’ve threatened the lives of thousands of civilians and endanger our embassy compound in Baghdad.”

{mosads}The president said the success of the mission, which saw U.S. strikes assist Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces, was evidence “that Iraqi and Kurdish forces are capable of working together and taking the fight to” the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Obama warned leaders in Iraq that “the wolf’s at the door” and said they need to provide a credible and inclusive government to push back ISIS’s advances.

“We will continue to pursue a long-term strategy to turn the tide against [ISIS] by supporting the new Iraqi government and working with key partners in the region and beyond,” Obama said.

The president said the nomination of a new Iraqi prime minister-designate, Haidar al-Abadi, to replace sitting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was “historic progress.” Al-Maliki, a Shiite, has been criticized for purging Sunnis from top government and military roles.

“But, as I think we’re all aware, the work is not yet done,” Obama said. “Over the next few weeks, Dr. Abadi needs to complete the work of forming a new, broad-based, inclusive Iraqi government, one that develops a national program to address the interests of all Iraqis.”

The president said that the length of the fight against ISIS “depends on how effectively the Iraqi government comes together,” and said he had no “blanket answer” for how long the U.S. commitment to fighting in Iraq would be.

“Our goal is to have effective partners on the ground and if we have effective partners on the ground, mission creep is much less likely,” Obama said. “Typically, what happens with mission creep is when we start deciding that we’re the ones who have to do it all ourselves.”

Separately, Obama said the U.S. was working to build “an international coalition” to address humanitarian needs in regions affected by ISIS occupation.

“Going forward, the United States will work with the Iraqi government, as well as partners like the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy and Australia, to get food and water to people in need, and to bring long-term relief to people who have been driven from their homes,” Obama said.