US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have made an unannounced Christmas visit to US troops in Iraq.
.The White House said they travelled there “late on Christmas night” to thank troops for “their service, their success and their sacrifice”.
Mr. Trump said the US has no plans to pull out of Iraq.
The trip came days after Defence Secretary Jim Mattis resigned over divisions about strategy in the region.
The US still has some five thousand troops in Iraq to support the government in its fight against what remains of the Islamic State, IS group.
.@FLOTUS Melania and I were honored to visit our incredible troops at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.! pic.twitter.com/rDlhITDvm1
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2018