WASHINGTON: Iraq’s prime minister has said that the Islamic State remains a fierce adversary as he outlined plans during a trip to Washington to prioritize battles in the refinery city of Baiji and Anbar province, where the militants are striking back.

Haidar Al-Abadi, speaking to reporters a day after meeting US President Barack Obama, portrayed a mixed picture of a weakening Islamic State eight months after US-led airstrikes against the group began in Iraq.

Asked whether Islamic State’s defeat was in sight as major campaign milestones approach, Abadi was measured, saying the group was on that path, but still showed some resilience and was proving “very mobile.”

“They (are) ideologized ... and their backs are against a wall. So they are putting (up) very fierce fighting,” he said. He said some fighters, presumably of Chechen origin, were heard speaking Russian in intercepted communications.

Abadi announced this month a new Anbar campaign, which was intended to build upon the victory in Tikrit. He also told reporters in Washington that Baiji was a priority. “We are going at the same time — Baiji and al Anbar,” he said.

Asked about his efforts to arm Sunni tribal forces in Anbar, Abadi said about 5,000 Sunni fighters now had weapons, adding they wanted more advanced weaponry, like heavy machine guns, but Baghdad had none to spare.

Abadi also acknowledged that the major battle to wrest back control of Mosul, Iraq’s second city, was still months away and would not happen until after Ramadan.