(CNN) Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday took a veiled swipe at Congress and its impeachment probe into President Donald Trump during an unannounced trip to Iraq to reaffirm the US commitment to Kurdish allies and visit US troops ahead of Thanksgiving.

On his second trip to the region in a little over a month, Pence visited the Al Asad Air Force Base in western Iraq, where he delivered remarks to roughly 150 service members. The vice president told them the Trump administration was fighting to secure a military pay raise and -- without naming the House impeachment inquiry into Trump and Ukraine -- attacked Congress, saying investigations have slowed lawmakers' progress in passing legislation.

"We need Congress to do their job. My fellow Americans gathered here, the truth is Congress should have finished their work on defense appropriations months ago," he said. "But you all know that partisan politics and endless investigations have slowed things down a bit in Washington, DC, but I'll make you a promise: This President, this vice president, and our administration will never stop fighting until we get you, our troops, the resources you need to accomplish your mission."

recalling the moment when he and Trump received word that the ISIS leader had been killed. The vice president recounted how he and Trump "watched in real time" from the White House Situation Room as US forces "descended on al-Baghdadi's compound in Syria." Pence also mentioned the US military raid on the compound of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,ecalling the moment when he and Trump received word that the ISIS leader had been killed. The vice president recounted how he and Trump "watched in real time" from the White House Situation Room as US forces "descended on al-Baghdadi's compound in Syria."

Happy Thanksgiving from Iraq. @SecondLady and I are so honored to be with our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines here in Iraq! We are so proud of you and thankful for you all! pic.twitter.com/bzcM1fGgiG — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 23, 2019

"I was there when the call came in... I'll never forget the words: 100% confidence. Jackpot. Over. Incredible," he said to applause from the crowd.

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