ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— The US army in Iraq has provided two Peshmerga brigades with 54 armored Humvee vehicles as part of an aid package to help Kurdish forces against ISIS militants in the country. Kurdish Peshmerga commander Rasoul Omar told Rudaw that other brigades are expected to receive similar equipment as part of an effort to upgrade the Kurdish military ahead of the anticipated Mosul offensive. “There will also be two long-range artillery units trained by the US army which will support Peshmerga offensives in other areas,” Omar said. Omar said the military equipment will have “substantial impact” on Peshmerga capabilities on the frontlines in Kirkuk as coalition troops are preparing for more offensives against ISIS. The US is expected to provide Kurdish forces with a $415 million aid package to help it cope with the severe economic crisis gripping the Kurdistan Region. The central government in Baghdad has to date refused to allocate a budget for the Peshmerga Ministry as part of Iraqi defense forces. Some 100,000 Kurdish recruits have been called or volunteered to serve with the Peshmerga troops patrolling nearly 1500 kilometers of front lines against ISIS militants. The ministry has been under increased pressure since early 2015 to pay its soldiers.
