UK sends Kurds £1.6 mn in arms for ISIL battle

UK sends Kurds £1.6 mn in arms for ISIL battle
Wed Sep 10, 2014 19:36:25

Britain is providing heavy machine guns and ammunition to Kurdish forces fighting ISIL Takfiri terrorists, the Ministry of Defense says.

British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the military hardware was worth nearly £1.6 million, and there would be an estimated £475,000 in transport costs, local media reported, citing a ministerial statement.

Fallon further said the UK is committed to assisting the Iraqi government and to helping Kurdish forces defend themselves.

According to Fallon, "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."

He added that the UK wanted to offer help to the Iraqi authorities by "alleviating the humanitarian suffering of those Iraqis targeted by ISIL terrorists."

According to the report, the weaponry is due to arrive in Iraq on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday: “We will continue to support the Kurds – including by providing them with arms and training their troops.


“The fight against ISIL must be led by the Iraqis themselves, but we will continue to encourage countries in the region to support this effort and to engage allies across the world.”

Last week, the UK announced it would directly arm Kurdish forces fighting the Takfiri terrorists and dispatched a senior UK military officer to advise them.

Britain has been one of the last western countries to offer to arm the Kurds with similar decisions already taken by Italy, France, the US, Australia and some smaller countries.

Previously, Downing Street announced it would not be sending arms to Baghdad until it had formed a new government.

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