The UK is prepared to supply arms to Kurdish forces fighting against Islamic State fighters in Iraq, if requested to do so by the Kurdish leadership, Downing Street said on Thursday.
The decision was made following an emergency COBRA meeting including the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, and the International Development Secretary, Justine Greening.
The Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the coalition partner, Liberal Democrats, also joined the meeting via secure link, The Times reported.
The Foreign Secretary is expected to inform EU colleagues about the decision later today.
The UK would at first supply equipment such as night vision goggles, reported The Telegraph, citing a Downing Street source.
"We would look on any request positively," the source reportedly added. However, British arms may not be requested by the Kurdish forces, who are trained to use Soviet era weapons.
France and Germany have already indicated their preparedness to supply arms, as IS fighters advance across Iraq.
The UK is currently helping to transfer arms from Eastern European countries, as well as Qatar and the UAE to Kurdish forces.
The decision was made following an emergency COBRA meeting including the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, and the International Development Secretary, Justine Greening.
The Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the coalition partner, Liberal Democrats, also joined the meeting via secure link, The Times reported.
The Foreign Secretary is expected to inform EU colleagues about the decision later today.
The UK would at first supply equipment such as night vision goggles, reported The Telegraph, citing a Downing Street source.
"We would look on any request positively," the source reportedly added. However, British arms may not be requested by the Kurdish forces, who are trained to use Soviet era weapons.
France and Germany have already indicated their preparedness to supply arms, as IS fighters advance across Iraq.
The UK is currently helping to transfer arms from Eastern European countries, as well as Qatar and the UAE to Kurdish forces.