BERLIN
The German government has announced it is ready to supply military equipment to Iraqi Kurds in their fight against the Islamic State.
Speaking on Wednesday, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said: "We are in principle ready to provide, within our capabilities, weapons and ammunition to the fighters in northern Iraq who struggle to counter ISIL [now known as the Islamic State]."
Germany will first send more humanitarian aid over the next few days, followed by non-lethal military equipment such as body armor, helmets and night-vision systems, von der Leyen added.
A final decision on supplying arms will be taken within a week, after the government has consulted with other nations and seen the recommendations of a special commission.
Early this month, the government ruled out sending arms to northern Iraq but Berlin has changed its approach following strong calls from other European countries and the Kurdish Regional Government for more support from Germany.
Steinmeier added: "The methods of ISIL are barbaric. The growing threat of ISIL for Kurds, for the state of Iraq and the whole region exists. Europe and Germany cannot remain silent to this."
He acknowledged that sending arms to an instable region involved risks. "Because of that we will proceed with sound judgment on the type and scale of these supplies," Steinmeier said.
France and the United States are already providing military aid to the Kurdish peshmerga.
IS has driven an estimated 1.2 million Iraqis from their homes in a humanitarian crisis that is engulfing the area. The U.S. has conducted dozens of airstrikes on IS forces since August 7.
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