Canada will provide long-range sniper rifles and anti-tank weapons to the Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State (ISIL) in northern Iraq, the Department of National Defence said Wednesday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a year ago that Canada would arm the Kurds, and DND said Wednesday the list included .50-calibre sniper rifles equipped with silencers, 60mm mortars, as well as Carl Gustav anti-tank systems. The arms are needed both to fight against ISIL and to defend an independent state, Kurdish leaders have said. The U.S. military already has provided Kurdish units with mortars, anti-tank weapons and armoured personnel carriers. Germany’s latest shipment included 1,500 rifles, 1 million rounds of ammunition, three armoured vehicles and 100 MILAN guided missiles.

Source: National Post February 08, 2017 23:15 UTC