Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is in Iraq as military forces inch closer to taking the city of Mosul from ISIS fighters.

Kushner, who has been tasked by Trump with trying to bring peace to the Middle East, is traveling with chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford to Iraq on Monday.

A senior Trump administration official said Kushner wanted to see Iraq for himself and show support for the Iraqi government.

In an article about the Iraq visit published by the Department of Defense, special assistant to the chairman for public affairs Navy Captain Greg Hicks said: 'It is the first trip to Iraq for Mr. Kushner and Mr. Bossert.'

'As well as receiving briefings and updates, Mr. Kushner is traveling on behalf of the president to express the president’s support and commitment to the government of Iraq and U. S. personnel currently engaged in the campaign.'

Scroll down for video

Jared Kushner (left) speaks with Marine Corps General Joe Dunford (right) before leaving Ramstein Air Base, Germany, en route to Baghdad on April 3

Kushner and Tom Bossert, White House homeland security adviser, will be updated on the status of the counter-ISIS campaign in Iraq.

The visit is also intended to give the two insight into special operations forces and the counter-IED fight.

Kushner's visit to Iraq was not announced in advance. Other details about the trip are not being released and the purpose of the visit is not clear.

A Trump administration official said Kushner had already arrived. But when presented with information indicating that was not accurate, the official said the timing of his arrival was unclear but confirmed that Kushner in Iraq Monday afternoon.

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is reportedly in Iraq as military forces inch closer to taking the city of Mosul from ISIS fighters

News of his visit was first reported in a tweet by a New York Times journalist.

His visit comes as military divisions were deployed to northern Iraq as they increase efforts to reclaim the city of Mosul from the Islamic State.

The United States is leading an international coalition fighting ISIS, launching air strikes to assist Iraqi forces on the ground.

His visit marks an early foray for the Trump administration into the situation in Iraq and came just two weeks after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he was assured by the president the U.S. will accelerate its support for his country's struggle against the Islamic State group.

Al-Abadi met with Trump and Kushner in Washington recently and said he had the impression that the United States would take a more aggressive approach, although he did not say what that might entail.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis recently presented Trump with the outlines of a comprehensive approach to defeating IS and other extremist groups on a global scale, but specifics have yet to be worked out. Officials have indicated that the approach is unlikely to depart radically from the Obama administration's strategy, at least with regard to ongoing efforts in Iraq and Syria.

Last Wednesday, President Trump said at an event for senators and their spouses: 'We're doing very well in Iraq' and added 'Our soldiers are fighting like never before.'

Since last month, the forces have been engaged in a grinding battle for west Mosul, sending more than 200,000 civilians fleeing for safety.

When Trump took office in January, he pledged to come up with a new strategy to defeat the terror group.

It is Kushner's first visit to Iraq since Trump appointed him peace envoy to the Middle East and gave him a broad West Wing portfolio.

Kushner, who is peace envoy to the Middle East, is traveling with chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joseph Dunford

Kushner's visit to Iraq was not announced in advance. Other details about the trip are not being released

He has been deeply involved with presidential staffing and has played the role of shadow diplomat, advising on relations with the Middle East, Canada and Mexico.

Last week he launched a task force meant to modernize government using lessons drawn from the private sector.

Kushner, like his father-in-law, has no previous experience in government but has risen to become one of the most powerful men in Washington.

Valued by Trump for his discretion and loyalty, the 36-year-old is officially a White House senior adviser with far-reaching influence over domestic and foreign policy.

His wife Ivanka also plays a key role in advising the president.

Ivanka officially became assistant to the president last week, after being a regular presence in the White House since Trump's election.

His visit comes as military divisions were deployed to northern Iraq as they increase efforts to reclaim the city of Mosul (above) from the Islamic State