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<p>The strengthening of Iraq’s security forces forms a regular part of our engagement
with the Government of Iraq, including when the Foreign Secretary hosted the inaugural
meeting of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL on 22 January.
The meeting was attended by both Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi and Foreign
Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari. Discussions included the need to support the Government
of Iraq in its fight against ISIL, as well as the need for progress in strengthening
Iraq’s political stability through addressing Sunni disenfranchisement. This would
include progress on the creation of a National Guard, legislation in this regard would,
in part, see Sunni tribal forces brought under the aegis of Iraq’s security forces,
politically and militarily drawing together Sunni and Shia in their common fight against
ISIL.</p><p>The UK is actively contributing to the Global Coalition’s efforts in support
of Iraqi Forces including conducting over 150 strikes and training over 1000 members
of the Kurdish Peshmerga. In addition to our earlier delivery of lethal equipment
to the Peshmerga, which included 40 Heavy Machine Guns, subject to parliamentary scrutiny,
we will also gift 1000 surplus VALLON Counter-IED metal detectors to Iraq, and deploy
a team to provide training in their use.</p>
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