ARMS AND THE KURDS

That this House notes that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has a 650 mile border with the self-styled Islamic State and has lost over 1,200 Peshmerga soldiers, with 7,000 injuries since Isis attacked Kurdistan last August; believes that American and British airpower are vital to the continued defence of the Kurdistan Region but that the KRG also needs an increased and reliable supply of heavy weapons to defend itself; regrets that the federal government in Baghdad is effectively delaying, if not formally denying, such supplies by not responding to foreign governments that wish to supply such weapons; further regrets that the Baghdad government is also failing to be transparent in the supplies that are reaching the Kurds and in explaining when shortfalls will be completed; and urges the UK and the US to ensure that arms supplies to the KRG are made expeditiously and directly so the Kurds can better defend themselves as a vital part of the international coalition against a genocidal and misogynist group.