Progress against IS in northern, central Iraq "encouraging": Pentagon chief

The Pentagon chief on Thursday praised the progress made against the Islamic State (IS) as U.S.-led coalition continues to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at destroying the militant group.

Iraqi forces have "made some gains in both northern and central Iraq" and "their initial progress is encouraging", Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told a news conference.

"But these are just first steps...in what we have said will be a long and difficult multi-year effort against ISIL by the local Iraqi forces on the ground (with) support from the U.S, as well as coalition partners," Hagel said, using an alternative acronym for the group.

The U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division headquarters will take command in Baghdad on Friday, coordinating all U.S. forces in Iraq, he said.

"But our military campaign is only one part of the broader comprehensive strategy required to defeat ISIL," said Hagel, who also stressed the importance of choking off the group's resources and recruits, de-legitimizing its ideology, as well as building an inclusive Iraqi government.

Also at the press conference was Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who provided an update on U.S. efforts to train and equip the Syrian moderate opposition.

"The command-and-control apparatus is in place," Dempsey said. "The sites have been selected, and the reconnaissance conducted to determine what infrastructure we'll need to accomplish the mission."

Coalition partners are beginning to contribute trainers to the efforts, he added, though the recruiting and vetting has not yet begun. Enditem