Hungary to increase military assistance to Peshmerga

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Hungarian Defense Minister, who traveled to Kurdistan Region today, promised to increase the military aid for Peshmerga forces.

István Simicskó, Hungary's Defense Minister, and the military delegation accompanying him arrived in Erbil today by a direct flight from Hungary to Kurdistan Region.

Hazhar Ismael, the director of Coordination and Public Relations in the Ministry of Peshmerga, told Kurdistan24 that Simicskó’s visit is to discuss the war against Islamic State (IS), increase military aid for Peshmerga and improve the bilateral relations with the Kurdistan Region.

Ismail who welcomed the Hungarian Defense Minister at the airport stated that the minister has good news for Peshmerga forces which he will discuss with President Barzani.

In a press conference with Nawzad Hadi and Peshmerga commanders, Simicskó said that “Hungary will increase the level of military assistance to Peshmerga forces fighting IS by providing more medical assistance, weapons, ammunition, and advisors to train Peshmerga.”

Simicskó revealed that as part of the Coalition, currently 150 Hungarian soldiers and advisors are in the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga forces. “Our main objective for this visit is that we want to increase our military presence here [in the Region] and increase our support to the highest possible level,” he added.

Simicskó thanked Peshmerga force for their fight against terrorism and said that Hungary will boost its contribution to Peshmerga which includes taking Kurdish fighters to Hungary for military training.

Vezekényi told the Governor of Halabja Province Abdulla Mohamad that Hungary has previously provided military support to the Kurdistan Region in the fight against jihadists.

Csaba Vezekényi, the Hungarian Consul General in Erbil in a press conference on Sunday said that “Hungary has so far provided 275 tons of weapons and ammunition to the Peshmerga forces in the fight against IS, and 110 more types of advanced weapons will be sent to them.”

Elsewhere, on Monday, the Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti arrived in Erbil, Kurdistan, following an unannounced visit to Baghdad, and met with the Kurdistan Region officials.

In a meeting with President Barzani on Tuesday, Pinotti expressed Italy’s commitment to supporting Peshmerga forces and the Kurdistan Region militarily and financially and thanked Peshmerga for helping the Italian troops deployed near Mosul dam, Kurdistan Region Presidency statement revealed.

Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran

Editing by Ava Homa