Italy is to send to Iraq a
KC-767 in-flight refuelling plane, two Predator drones and 280
soldiers to train Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State (ISIS)
militants and advise the Iraqi high command, Defence Minister
Roberta Pinotti told parliament Thursday.
This follows surplus machine guns from the Italian army and
ex-Soviet style arms kept in a Sardinian storage facility since
they were confiscated by law enforcement authorities in 1994,
Pinotti told the foreign affairs and defence commissions of both
houses of parliament.
"It deals in particular with ammunition for heavy machine
guns and ammunition for anti-tank systems of a type used by
Kurdish forces," Pinotti said.
Pinotti added that Italian military aircraft are currently
en route toward Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan.
A law decree increasing funding for international military
missions will cover transport costs and a gift of 24 Centauro
combat vehicles to Jordan, "a country on the frontline in
battling the Islamic State".
Italy will also send a KC-767 helicopter for in-flight
resupply of Coalition aircraft; two Predator drones for regional
surveillance; and a group of officers to help planning, the
minister said.
In addition, members of the Kurdish military are being
flown to Italy for training in the use of arms that Italy has
already given them.
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