UK 'Prepared To Arm Kurdish Fighters In Iraq'

The UK will "consider positively" any request for military equipment from Kurdish fighters in Iraq, according to a Government source.

David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg agreed during an emergency Cobra meeting that it was "vital" to help the fight against the militants.

It is now expected the Government would provide weapons and equipment if Kurdish leaders made a request.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces are battling the brutal Islamic State group, which has recently made significant gains in the north of the country, causing thousands to flee after they were issued with an ultimatum to convert to Islam or face death.

Other EU countries have already agreed to send weapons to the Kurds

A Downing Street source said any supplies would be "dependent on what the Kurds would need".

France is already sending weapons to Iraq, with President Francois Hollande confirming the "imminent delivery of military equipment.

Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have also said they will send arms or are considering doing so.

Meanwhile, several thousand refugees from the Yazidi minority remain on Mount Sinjar in searing temperatures - but the US has said it is now unlikely to mount a rescue.

Kurish forces helped end the 'siege of Sinjar'

President Barack Obama said the situation had "greatly improved" after a special forces mission found many people had escaped.

Mr Obama said airdrops had delivered more than 114,000 meals and tens of thousands of gallons of water, with fighter jets striking Islamic State fighters to allow the drops to take place.

The militants' siege of Sinjar town has been broken, the president said, but strikes will continue.

Yazidi people demonstrate at the Iraq-Syria border

UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening said military action and resistance from Kurdish troops had cleared a safe path for many refugees, who originally were thought to number in the tens of thousands.

Britain has also completed completed seven aid deliveries and a "small number" of RAF Chinook helicopters are being sent to the region, in addition to Tornado jets with surveillance equipment.

Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al Maliki, bowed to pressure and stepped down on Thursday with his country's military still struggling to contain Islamic State's onslaught. Haider al Abadi was named as his replacement.

Nouri al Maliki has bowed to pressure at home and abroad

The US called the decision a "major step forward in uniting (Iraq)".

Secretary of State John Kerry said: "We commend the important and honourable decision by Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki to support Prime Minister-designate Haider al Abadi in his efforts to form a new government and develop a national program in line with Iraq's constitutional timeline.

A night vision image of an air drop by the RAF

"This milestone decision sets the stage for a historic and peaceful transition of power in Iraq."

EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels later to discuss the ongoing aid efforts, and possibly an agreement on a joint position on arming Kurdish forces.

Islamic State's offensive has seen them this year capture major cities, such as Mosul and Tikrit, with reports of beheadings and crucifixions as they grab more territory for their self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

UK 'Prepared To Arm Kurdish Fighters In Iraq'

Dengan url

http://pusingkepalamu.blogspot.com/2014/08/uk-prepared-to-arm-kurdish-fighters-in.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

UK 'Prepared To Arm Kurdish Fighters In Iraq'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

UK 'Prepared To Arm Kurdish Fighters In Iraq'

sebagai sumbernya