(MENAFN- QNA) Germany plans to expand its military engagement in the fight against the Islamic State militant group in northern Iraq, dpa learned Saturday after a briefing of parliament's Defence Committee by Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
Germany is considering the establishment of a military training centre in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous region of Kurdistan;
participation in Iraqi military training; and the dispatch of additional military officers to allied command centres.
The Defence Ministry confirmed the plans, which came after the United States this week urged a stronger engagement by its allies in the fight against the jihadist militants, who have recently achieved widespread gains in Iraq and Syria.
Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed Germany's response Wednesday with von der Leyen and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Germany's military is now supplying weapons to Kurdish Peshmerga forces and showing the Kurdish fighters how to use them in training both in Kurdish territory and in Germany. Thirteen German soldiers are currently stationed in Erbil for this mission.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.