SYDNEY, August 27. /ITAR-TASS/. The government of Iraqi Kurdistan appealed to Australia with a request to supply arms to fight the militants of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS). The representative of the Kurdish government in Australia Haval Syan handed this request to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop.

“Kurdish paramilitary forces (Peshmerga) are fighting against militants Islamic state on behalf of the international community and the international community has an obligation to support us,” Syan said

“In order to defeat the terrorists, we need support Australia, we need weapons and military equipment," he added.

“Peshmerga and the Iraqi army should join forces and defeat the militants from Islamic state,” he said.

According to local media, the government is "exploring the possibility of expanding the role of Australia in Iraq and it notified Washington about readiness to take part in military operations in the country and possibly in Syria."

According to the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott active consultations with the United States, Canada, France and the UK take place now. Local security services reported that up to 160 Australian citizens, mostly from Middle Eastern countries, are members of IS in Syria and Iraq.