France provides military assistance to Peshmerga

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A Ministry of Peshmerga official said on Saturday that France had provided more military assistance to the Kurdistan Region.

Brigadier General Hazhar Omer, Director of Coordination and Relations for the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs at the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), told Kurdistan24 that France had started to provide Peshmerga forces with more military aid in the fight against the Islamic State (IS).

“France will provide artillery and air support to the Peshmerga forces during the upcoming Mosul liberation operation,” Omer added.

According to Omer, besides air support for the Kurdish forces, the French are providing information about IS to Peshmerga.

“France is also providing Intel to the Peshmerga forces on the IS terrorist group and their positions through video and photos,” he explained.

On Sep. 7, the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani arrived in Paris and met with the French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo.

President Barzani met with the French President Francois Hollande at Élysée Palace the following day.

After the official meetings, President Barzani, in an interview with France24, said that the role of France within the coalition is of greatest importance.

President Barzani added that the French military would play a significant part in the Mosul operation.

He pointed to France’s air support and assisting the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces set up long-range artillery batteries.

“There are French military advisers on the ground providing support to the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces,” the President said.

France, aside from its involvement in the US-led international coalition to combat IS, provides military support, including rockets, machine guns, ammunition and other equipment to Peshmerga forces.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany