Obama to Host Iraq PM on April 14

President Barack Obama will host Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi next month, the White House announced on Monday.

Officials said the meeting would take place on April 14.

"The prime minister's visit underscores the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq and the strong U.S. commitment to political and military cooperation with Iraq in the joint fight against ISIL," a White House statement said.

"The president and prime minister will discuss a range of issues, including continued U.S. support to Iraq to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL, the government of Iraq's actions to address the needs of the Iraqi people and to strengthen cooperation between all communities in Iraq, and advancing a broad U.S.-Iraqi partnership through expanded political, commercial, and cultural relations under the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement."

The two leaders' planned meeting come amid daily coalition air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, and after a return by U.S. forces to Iraq last year to help take on the jihadist group.

After invading and occupying Iraq between 2003 to 2011, U.S. troops withdrew but about 2,600 have returned to help counter IS militants.

President Barack Obama so far has ruled out sending American soldiers into direct combat against IS fighters.