Czech Republic to supply more rifles, ammunition for Peshmerga

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Czech Republic is sending thousands more assault rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition to the Kurdistan’s Peshmerga forces, Czech media reports said.

They quoted Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka saying at a meeting with top Czech officials on Monday that his country will be sending more military aid to the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to battle the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

Sobotka said “six and a half thousand assault rifles and more than seven million rounds of ammunition to support the Iraqi army and the Kurds in their struggle” against ISIS will be supplied through the United States.

"This is about our support for the Iraqi army and the Kurds in the fight against so-called Islamic state," Sobotka explained.

Jordan will also receive more military support from the Czech Republic, the prime minister said.

"During last year's visit to Jordan, I promised more help in the fight against ISIL (ISIS), now it is time to fulfill the commitment," said Sobotka, who called Jordan a “stable partner” and an Island of “relative calm” in the Middle East.

The Czech Republic has donated large numbers of machine guns, assault rifles, 5,000 hand grenades and 5,000 rounds of ammunition to the Iraqis and Kurds.