Iraq 'months off' major IS offensive, says UK's Hammond before London meeting
 

(Refiles to change media identifying slug) LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Iraqi forces are months away from being able to launch proper combat operations against Islamic State (IS), Britain's foreign minister warned on Thursday, hours before hosting a London meeting of the U.S.-led coalition against the militant group. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is hosting senior officials from 21 countries to discuss how they can step up their campaign against IS in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere by doing more militarily, more to cut off the extremist group's finances, and more to stem the flow of foreign fighters. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is attending as is Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who was due to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron beforehand.

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