Russia to Deliver 400 Hi-Tech Mine Clearing Vehicles to Iraq

Source : http://english.farsnews.com

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iraqi official announced that Russia will supply the Iraqi army with 400 advanced demining vehicles next week for clearing the mines planted by the ISIL terrorist group in vast areas.

The Iraqi source who called for anonymity 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 Moscow is ready to send more weapons and ammunitions to Bagdad to help the crisis-hit country overcome the Takfiri terrorist groups, specially the ISIL.

“We will make all efforts to meet (Iraq’s) possible requests (for Russian-made weapons), to ensure it has the defense capability to get rid of the ISIL and other terrorists," Lavrov told reporters, speaking ahead of talks in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and al-Abadi.

"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.”