UK Helps Kurds £1.6 mn In Arms To Fight Against ISIL

KABUL: (Middle East Press) United Kingdom provides strong machine guns and ammunition to Kurdish forces in fighting against 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 added the UK is committed to support the Iraqi government and to help Kurdish forces defend themselves and their country.

According to the report, the armaments are due to arrive in Iraq on Wednesday.

According to Fallon, “ISIL insurgents are guilty of shocking violence. So I am pleased that we will supply weapons to the Kurdish forces that are at the front line of combating their violent extremism.”

He added that Britain wanted to offer help to the Iraqi authorities by “improving the humanitarian suffering of those Iraqis targeted by ISIL terrorists.”

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday: “We will continue to support the Kurds 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.”

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.