Russia To Deliver Mine Clearing Vehicles To Iraqi Army

Iraq has signed a ‘secret’ contract with Russia for buying 400 Mine clearing vehicle for clearing the mines planted by the Islamic State (IS) militants.

An Iraqi official told FNA that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi inked a secret contract with Russia to equip the Iraqi army with the demining vehicles.

"The armored vehicles will be used in military operations against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Northern and Western Iraq upon arrival in the country," the source said, adding that the costs for purchasing the vehicles will be paid by the Iraqi government later.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in May that Russia is ready to send more weapons and ammunitions to Iran to help the country overcome the Takfiri terrorist groups, specially the IS militants

“We will make all efforts to meet the Iraq’s possible requests for Russian-made weapons for ensuring that it has the defense capability to get rid of the ISIL and other terrorists," Lavrov told.

"We have very close and tight military-technical cooperation with Iraq," he said.

“Unlike some other countries, we are ready to supply weapons to Iraq without preconditions, based on the fact that Iraq, Syria and Egypt are on the forefront of the struggle against terrorism.” Sergei Lavrov said.

According to the Russian media, Russia has already supplied fighting equipment to Iraq: Russian Mi28 anti-armor attack helicopter, multirole Mi-35 attack helicopters, the Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems, Pantsir air defense systems, Dzhigit support launching units, artillery and other ammunition.