BAGHDAD: Iraq’s Ministry of Defense signed contracts with the United States and France to import advanced weapons and strengthen artillery, the state news agency (INA) reported on Sunday citing a senior military commander.
He added that long-range artillery weapons had proved efficient in fighting ISIS extremist group recently, and that new cannons are part of deals with European countries. The report did not elaborate on types of weapons or mention any other details on the contracts.
Commander of the second special operations in the Iraqi army, Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi, warned ISIS and Peshmerga forces on Friday that the national army will “crush” anyone that approaches the outskirts of Kirkuk.
Saadi continued saying that the security situation in Kirkuk is under control. He also denied any ISIS militant presence in the city or plans to attack them.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said that hundreds of injured children in Mosul are suffering and not receiving appropriate treatments for their conditions.
Days earlier, the Iraqi government announced that the Saudi Arabian consulate will open in the city of Basra within two weeks.
Under the direction of Saudi leadership, the consulate will be in a temporary location with its staff set to arrive to begin working soon.
The head of the Saudi delegation, Abdulrahman al-Shehri, who visited the Iraqi city on Sunday said that the consulate will open soon in order to provide needed services and facilitate pilgrimage and travel of investors between both countries.
An official from Basra’s Administrative Affairs office said in a press release that the city will facilitate all procedures in order to re-open the consulate as soon as possible.
The Saudi consulate in Basra had closed in 1990 during the second Gulf war. Basra is considered the second largest city in Iraq and hosts five other consulates which include the US consulate, Russia and Iran. –Agencies
