Kansas Senator Pat Roberts says he saw signs of progress in fighting against Islamic State militants during his weekend trip to Iraq to visit U.S. troops.
Roberts arrived Thursday night in Kuwait to visit U.S. troops.
On Saturday, Roberts went to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad to meet with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his defense and foreign ministers.
Sunday, he was in the Kurdish city of Erbil in northern Iraq.
Roberts said he wants to be careful not to be overly optimistic, but he said he believes al-Abadi has strengthened the Iraqi military's leadership in the past 100 days and is trying to reconcile his nation's Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
The senator also said morale among U.S. troops and commanders is good.
About 1,700 U.S. troops are in Iraq, and President Barack Obama has authorized up to 3,000 to advise and train Iraqi forces.
Roberts said there's still a question as to whether the Iraqi defense forces can match the combat readiness of tough Kurdish fighters.
He said the Kurdish fighters' successes Sunday were evidence that the U.S. approach can work.
Roberts says he was encouraged by the success of Iraqi Kurdish fighters in pushing back the Islamic State group around the contested northern Iraqi town of Sinjar.
He said U.S. troops in Iraq, including about 400 from the Army's 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, are playing key roles in providing intelligence and training Iraqis, along with providing air support.
Roberts says "I'm more optimistic than I was."
