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Fight against Islamic state

EU foreign ministers agree to supply weapons to Iraqi Kurds

A European diplomatic source said earlier today that each EU state would take decisions on concrete amounts and the range of military supplies independently

Aid supplies are being loaded into a German military Transall aircraft to be taken to the Kurdish territories in Iraq EPA/AXEL HEIMKEN

Aid supplies are being loaded into a German military Transall aircraft to be taken to the Kurdish territories in Iraq

© EPA/AXEL HEIMKEN

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German arms supplies to Iraq possible — Merkel

BRUSSELS, August 15. /ITAR-TASS/. EU foreign ministers agreed on weapons supplies to Iraqi Kurds, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed this report on Friday.

“The foreign ministers have reached an agreement. The Council of EU Foreign Ministers has welcomed EU states’ plans to give military aid to Iraqi Kurd forces,” he said.

A European diplomatic source added earlier in the day that each EU state would take decisions on concrete amounts and the range of military supplies independently.

Islamic State gunmen who were a striking force of anti-governmental groupings in Syria have put under their control more than one third of the territory in neighboring Iraq from the start of this year. Meanwhile, regular army trained and armed by the United States almost failed to resist them. Gunmen have also captured stocks of modern weapons and military hardware. So, they are currently armed no worse than governmental army protecting Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, and much better than Kurdish militias who protect northern regions in the country.

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Middle East conflict

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