(MENAFN- QNA) The German parliament on Monday overwhelmingly backed Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to arm Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq.
Merkel earlier defended her government's decision, admitting to lawmakers that "no conflict can be resolved by military force alone" but adding, "There are situations where only military support can help to ensure a political solution." Merkel's statement came one day after her cabinet set out the details on the 70 million euros (92 million dollars) of military equipment it plans to send to northern Iraq this month to head off the threat posed by Islamic State militants, reported German Press Agency dpa.
The government did not require the backing of parliament to arm the Kurds but agreed to hold a vote to demonstrate the widest possible support for the decision.
"Every conflict has its own character," Merkel told the Bundestag, saying the Islamic State had committed "unbelievable atrocities" in recent weeks.
"Everything that does not match their worldview, they cruelly clear out of the way," she argued.
"They abuse a religion in a terrible way to legitimize murder, terror and tyranny," she said. "In addition, it could destabilize the entire region, which could also affect Germany." The German military support - which includes 500 anti-tank missiles, 10,000 hand grenades and 16,000 assault rifles - should equip about 10,000 members of the 100,000-strong Kurdish fighting force, defence officials in Berlin said.
Merkel said her government had considered the risks of sending arms to northern Iraq but insisted the risks of not sending weapons to Kurds fighting to stop the Islamic State's advance outweighed them.
"We now have the chance to save the lives of people and to prevent further mass killings in Iraq," Merkel said.
"We now have to prevent the chance that terrorists create another safe haven," she said.
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