Coalition gives over 150 vehicles to Peshmerga forces

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Coalition forces on Wednesday gave over 150 vehicles to Peshmerga forces, the coalition’s top advisor told Rudaw.

“Today’s divestment is over 150 vehicles. They consist of mobility, counter mobility, construction, sustainment vehicles to enhance those work fighting functions, those capabilities of Peshmerga,” Todd Burroughs told Rudaw’s Ranja Jamal.

The common mission with the Peshmerga is to defeat Daesh, he said using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State (ISIS).

This is one of several rounds of military aid given to Peshmerga forces by the coalition.

In late July, the coalition handed over a total of 50 Humvees, three water tankers, and 25 general transport trucks, an anonymous source from the Peshmerga ministry told Rudaw English.

In June, it gave the Peshmerga forces around $4 million worth of weapons and equipment in two separate rounds. 

Peshmerga forces have consistently fought ISIS since it took swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014, and are a key ally for the coalition.

At least 1,700 Peshmerga fighters were killed and around 10,000 injured in the fight against ISIS from 2014 onwards.

ISIS remnants continue to remain active across Iraq, particularly in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad where both the Iraqi and Peshmerga forces are working to form a joint brigade.