Germany votes to send troops to support Kurdish Peshmerga forces

The German government voted in favour of sending military experts to the Kurdistan region as part of Berlin’s commitment to support Peshmerga forces in a war against Islamic State militants.

“We have had excellent relations with Peshmerga forces. They are reliable and very much concerned, but they need guns and training,” said the German defence minister, Ursula Von Der Leyen, on Thursday.

The deployment of roughly 100 troops is expected to happen in January 2015, reports Rudaw news.

The Peshmerga, known for their devout commitment to the Kurdish nationalist cause and regarded as well-trained, well-armed and capable, are the Iraqi Kurdish military force of the Kurdish struggle for self-determination. The term Peshmerga translates to ‘those who follow death.’

Peshmerga forces deployed to defend Kobane from Islamic State militants  (28 Oct 2014)

US coalition launches further attacks on Islamic State targets

US led coalition forces launched 13 attacks on Iraq and 3 in Syria in further attacks on Islamic State militants positions.

Four of the strikes in Iraq were near the recently liberated Sinjar mountains, reports Reuters.

Kurds break IS siege at Sinjar (19 Dec 2014)

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