Canada wants Kurdish promises before sending weapons, ammunition to Iraq
OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s plan to provide weapons to Kurdish forces in Iraq is being held up by concerns the military equipment won’t be used for purposes other than fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The revelation comes amid growing calls in some Kurdish circles for an independent state separate from the rest of Iraq, and allegations — which the Kurds deny — that they are committing war crimes.
The government said in February that Canada would provide small arms, ammunition and optical sights to the Kurds as part of its revamped mission to fight ISIL. It also expanded the number of special forces in Iraq to about 200 and withdrew Canadian fighter jets from the U.S.-led bombing campaign.
Nearly eight months later, however, none of that so-called lethal aid has been delivered.