28-03-2024 11:40 AM Jerusalem Timing

Russia to Deliver 400 Hi-Tech Mine Clearing Vehicles to Iraq

Russia to Deliver 400 Hi-Tech Mine Clearing Vehicles to Iraq

A senior Iraqi official announced on Wednesday that Russia will supply the Iraqi army with 400 advanced demining vehicles next week for clearing the mines planted by ISIL takfiri group in vast areas.

A senior Iraqi official announced on Wednesday that Russia will supply the Iraqi army with 400 advanced demining vehicles next week for clearing the mines planted by the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group in vast areas.

Iraqi sources said that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi inked a secret contract with Russia to equip the Iraqi army with the demining vehicles, Fars news agency reported.

"The armored vehicles will be used in military operations against the ISIL terrorists in northern and western Iraq upon arrival in the country," the source said, adding that the costs for purchasing the vehicles will be paid by the Iraqi government later.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in May that Moscow is ready to send more weapons and ammunitions to Bagdad to help the crisis-hit country overcome the Takfiri terrorist groups, specially the ISIL.

“We will make all efforts to meet (Iraq’s) possible requests (for Russian-made weapons), to ensure it has the defense capability to get rid of the ISIL and other terrorists," Lavrov told reporters, speaking ahead of talks in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and Abadi.

"We have very close and tight military-technical cooperation (with Iraq)," he said.

“Unlike some other countries, we are ready to supply weapons to Iraq without preconditions, based on the fact that Iraq, Syria and Egypt are on the forefront of the struggle against terrorism,” Lavrov elaborated further.

Iraq was hit by a violent unrest when sleeper cells of ISIL stormed Iraqi army military posts in northern Iraq, occupied the province of Mosul, the largest in the country, and declared 'Caliphate'.