ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Britain is ready to deliver its first batch of weapons, including heavy machineguns and ammunition, to Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State (IS/formerly ISIS or ISIL), Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said.
“This will give the Kurdish Peshmerga forces additional firepower in order to help them defend the front line, protect civilians and push back ISIL advances,” Fallon said in a statement on Tuesday.
The British government has so far only provided non-lethal aid to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The Royal Air Force (RAF) has helped transport arms to Kurdish forces on behalf of other governments.
“The RAF continues to transport military equipment and ammunition on behalf of other countries as well as providing UK non-lethal military equipment including body armor, helmets and ration packs. Today a flight flew into Erbil in northern Iraq carrying the latest support package,” Fallon’s statement said.
Britain is among a 10-nation, US-led coalition that has pledged to help defeat the IS in Iraq and Syria. Later today, US President Barack Obama is to unveil his strategy to push back the militants.
“ISIL militants are guilty of shocking brutality. So I am pleased that we will supply weapons to the Kurdish forces who are at the front line of combating their violent extremism,” Fallon said.
Empowered by US air cover, Kurdish forces have been able to forestall jihadist territorial gains. Over the past two weeks, Peshmerga forces have pushed back the radicals from several major towns and strategic locations in Salahaddin and Mosul.
The UK considers IS as a strategic threat to its national security, British Prime Minister David Cameron said last month.
“This (IS) is a clear danger to Europe and to our security,” Cameron said, while appointing a Special Representative to the KRG to consult and coordinate security and diplomatic affairs with London.
“This will give the Kurdish Peshmerga forces additional firepower in order to help them defend the front line, protect civilians and push back ISIL advances,” Fallon said in a statement on Tuesday.
The British government has so far only provided non-lethal aid to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The Royal Air Force (RAF) has helped transport arms to Kurdish forces on behalf of other governments.
“The RAF continues to transport military equipment and ammunition on behalf of other countries as well as providing UK non-lethal military equipment including body armor, helmets and ration packs. Today a flight flew into Erbil in northern Iraq carrying the latest support package,” Fallon’s statement said.
Britain is among a 10-nation, US-led coalition that has pledged to help defeat the IS in Iraq and Syria. Later today, US President Barack Obama is to unveil his strategy to push back the militants.
“ISIL militants are guilty of shocking brutality. So I am pleased that we will supply weapons to the Kurdish forces who are at the front line of combating their violent extremism,” Fallon said.
Empowered by US air cover, Kurdish forces have been able to forestall jihadist territorial gains. Over the past two weeks, Peshmerga forces have pushed back the radicals from several major towns and strategic locations in Salahaddin and Mosul.
The UK considers IS as a strategic threat to its national security, British Prime Minister David Cameron said last month.
“This (IS) is a clear danger to Europe and to our security,” Cameron said, while appointing a Special Representative to the KRG to consult and coordinate security and diplomatic affairs with London.
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