The top U.S. military official is in Iraq for talks with U.S. commanders and Iraqi officials about the next phase of the expanding war against the Islamic State group.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived Saturday in Baghdad, where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

An Iraqi spokesman says the prime minister is hoping for close military cooperation from the U.S. but is not seeking combat troops on the ground from any countries.   

A few days ago, General Dempsey said it is possible U.S. officials will eventually consider assigning a modest number of American troops to fight with Iraqi forces in the besieged city of Mosul and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Iraqi media are reporting government forces are close to retaking the country’s largest oil refinery, which was captured by Islamic State fighters earlier this year.

The refinery is about 20 kilometers north of the town of Beiji, which Iraqi troops recaptured on Friday after driving out Islamic State militants.

U.S. President Barack Obama recently authorized the U.S. military to deploy up to 1,500 more troops to Iraq as part of the mission to fight Islamic State militants.  White House officials say the troops will not serve in a combat role, but will help train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting the group.

Obama also will ask Congress for $5.6 billion to help fund the campaign.  Senior administration officials say the request includes $1.6 billion to establish an Iraqi train and equip fund to support the training effort.

U.S.-led forces have carried out near daily air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq.
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