UK signs agreement to provide military support to Iraq against ISIS

The United Kingdom has signed an agreement to provide military support to Iraq against the terrorist group ISIS. The Defence Secretary of UK Ben Wallace met with his Iraqi counterpart Najah al-Shammari in London and signed the Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming UK military supports to Iraq.

The UK has reaffirmed its military support to Iraq after an agreement was signed in London today by Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP and His Excellency Najah al-Shammari @UKinIraq 🇬🇧🇮🇶https://t.co/pYY8d9LVzT pic.twitter.com/Ehj7inkYsK

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) August 22, 2019

The agreement focuses on military education, while also confirming that the UK will work alongside Iraqi Security Forces to develop their intelligence structures and provide wider training and development.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement, "The work our personnel are doing in Iraq to help them combat the scourge of terrorism is absolutely vital. Not only are we making a valued international partner more self-sufficient for the future, but we are also keeping our own streets safer by suppressing the spread of Daesh's evil ideology."

"However, we are under no illusions and fully recognize that the threat from Daesh and al-Qaeda is still very real. This document is a signal of our commitment to continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Iraq until that danger has been diminished, and also to form a longer-term defense relationship," he further added.

The UK currently has around 500 British personnel in Iraq, training and developing the skills and knowledge of local forces, as they deal with the ongoing insurgent threat from Daesh and other terrorist groups.

In addition to targeting Daesh with airstrikes over Iraq and Syria, the UK has currently trained more than 103,000 Iraqi forces in infantry and weapons maintenance, counter IED, medical and engineering skills. This has already saved countless lives and is contributing to recent successful operations, according to a statement by the UK Ministry of Defence.