25 August 2014
German Foreign Minister states that Berlin has a shared responsibility to support Kurds against ISIS
According to Rudaw, in an interview with German ZDF radio last week, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said that Berlin had a shared responsibility to support the Kurdish forces in their war against ISIS, adding that Europe cannot be indifferent to the IS advance.
The Kurdish Peshmerga remain the only reliable military force in Iraq after the Iraqi army, faced with the IS advance that began in June 2014, collapsed. European military support for the Kurds continued to swell on Wednesday 20 August, with Germany, Albania and Italy announcing arms supplies to Peshmerga forces fighting the ISIS armies. They join Britain and France in arms supplies to the Kurds, who are also being backed with US air strikes against the militants and logistical help from Canada.
According to Reuters, Steinmeier said that, besides humanitarian aid and military equipment such as body armor and helmets, “we can also imagine providing further equipment, including weapons” but went on to state that this would take place “in close agreement with our European and international partners (…) in such a way that it boosts the Peshmerga’s ability to defend themselves.”
Source: Rudaw | European Nations Boost Arms Supplies, Military Support to Kurds
Source: Reuters | Germany, Italy say prepared to send weapons to Iraq's Kurds
Source: Rudaw | Germany Joins Countries Arming Kurdish Peshmerga Forces