Australia to send arms to Iraq

The Australian prime minister says Canberra plans to send military equipment to Iraq to allegedly help in the fight against Takfiri ISIL militants in the country.

“The United States government has requested that Australia help to transport stores of military equipment, including arms and munitions, as part of a multi-nation effort,” Tony Abbott said in a statement on Sunday.

He also said that Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft will fly to Iraq to join other aircraft from Canada, Italy, France, the UK and the US.

The premier did not clarify when the delivery would begin, but reports said the aircrafts could fly their first mission soon.

“Australia’s contribution will continue to be coordinated with the government of Iraq and regional countries,” Abbott further noted, saying Iraq’s situation represents a humanitarian catastrophe.

Canberra has said it is open to the prospect of striking ISIL locations with its warplanes, which is subjected to invitations from Baghdad and Washington.

The US began its airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in northern Iraq on August 8. This is while the rise of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists is the directly attributed to the policies of the Western countries such as the US and Australia in the region. 

On Tuesday, Abbott said tens of Australians are fighting with the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, while about 100 other citizens are actively supporting the Takfiri group.

He also announced plans to fight the growing threat of homegrown terrorists fighting alongside the ISIL militants.

The Iraqi army, backed by Kurdish forces and thousands of volunteers, is engaged in fierce fighting with the ISIL militants to push them out of the captured areas.

They have been committing heinous crimes in the areas they have taken, including the mass execution of civilians as well as Iraqi army troops and officers.

SAB/HMV