US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday for a six-day Gulf tour aimed at galvanizing support for Iraq as it battles the Daesh group. Washington is eager to see the Gulf Arab monarchies do more to help Baghdad at a crucial moment in its fight against the jihadists. "The success of the campaign against ISIL in Iraq does depend upon political and economic progress as well," Carter said ahead of his visit, using another acronym for the Daesh group. "It's important that we continue to support" Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi in his efforts to build a "multi-sectarian" country, he said. "That's the challenge in Iraq." Abadi is grappling with plummeting oil prices and a political crisis that led to scuffles in parliament this week, hindering his efforts to replace the cabinet. Carter will hold talks with regional leaders, particularly Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Muhammad Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, and join US President Barack Obama at a Gulf summit in Riyadh on Thursday. He will also meet US officials overseeing the campaign against Daesh. Washington has urged its allies to increase support for the fight against the militants in Iraq and Syria. Although the militants maintain a firm grip on vast areas of the two countries, they have suffered some serious setbacks including the loss of Ramadi in Iraq. Retaking Iraq's second city of Mosul is among the US-led coalition's top objectives but the battle is expected to be one of the most difficult yet. Washington says it has nearly 3,900 troops in Iraq, mostly in training and support roles. It is said to be preparing to announce a further increase of troops, after deploying a unit specialized in ground raids to capture or kill Daesh leaders at the start of the year.
