Biden, Barzani review Iraq security challenges

US Vice President Joe Biden discussed security challenges in Iraq over phone with Kurdistan region President Massoud Barzani. "Biden confirmed during the call continued commitment of the United States in partnership with Iraq to fight al-Qaeda," the U.S. vice president's office said in a statement. He added that the two sides discussed the need for close coordination between Erbil and Baghdad so as to isolate terrorist networks as well as Iraq's "important progress for Iraq to build good relations with neighboring countries, including Turkey." The two sides had discussed in a September phone call the latest security and political developments in the Iraqi arena. Iraq looks forward to getting advanced American weapons, including F-16 aircrafts to fight al-Qaeda, which starting regaining ground in recent months.