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IS brutal terrorist group, says Philip Hammond in Iraq | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Islamic State is a "brutal terrorist group", the foreign secretary has said, as he holds talks in with Iraq's new prime minister on fighting extremism. | |
Philip Hammond said he and Haider al-Abadi would discuss how to tackle IS and the need for national unity. | |
Speaking from Baghdad, Mr Hammond said Islamic State "makes no distinction between the cultures, countries and religions it attacks". | |
His visit comes as a team of UK troops help train Kurdish forces fighting IS. | His visit comes as a team of UK troops help train Kurdish forces fighting IS. |
A dozen soldiers will spend around a week in northern Iraq, training the Peshmerga how to use heavy machine guns supplied by the UK. | A dozen soldiers will spend around a week in northern Iraq, training the Peshmerga how to use heavy machine guns supplied by the UK. |
And Royal Air Force Tornado jets based in Cyprus have been flying combat missions over Iraq since September. | And Royal Air Force Tornado jets based in Cyprus have been flying combat missions over Iraq since September. |
Mr Hammond said IS, also known as Isil, was a "brutal terrorist group unrepresentative of the people of Iraq, the Middle East, or of the Islamic faith". | |
"If it is left unchecked, we will face a terrorist and criminal cabal with a declared and proven determination to attack anyone who doesn't agree with its twisted ideology," he said. | |
"The action the UK has taken to date, including airstrikes and surveillance flights, shows the UK will play its part in standing with the Iraqi people in their fight against Isil." | |
UK assistance | UK assistance |
Mr Hammond wrote on Twitter that he and Mr al-Abadi would "discuss support to government in Iraq in fight against terrorism and need for national reconciliation." | Mr Hammond wrote on Twitter that he and Mr al-Abadi would "discuss support to government in Iraq in fight against terrorism and need for national reconciliation." |
He later also said the UK was taking various steps to help the Iraqi authorities counter IS. | He later also said the UK was taking various steps to help the Iraqi authorities counter IS. |
These, he said, consisted of the supply of military equipment and training to the Kurdish security forces, providing political support to the new Iraqi government and leading diplomatic action in the UN to disrupt flows of finance to IS. | These, he said, consisted of the supply of military equipment and training to the Kurdish security forces, providing political support to the new Iraqi government and leading diplomatic action in the UN to disrupt flows of finance to IS. |
Also, the UK has supplied £23m in humanitarian assistance to people affected by IS's "barbaric brutality". | Also, the UK has supplied £23m in humanitarian assistance to people affected by IS's "barbaric brutality". |
"The formation of a new Iraqi government was a critical first step to addressing the serious security, political and humanitarian challenges facing Iraq," he added. | "The formation of a new Iraqi government was a critical first step to addressing the serious security, political and humanitarian challenges facing Iraq," he added. |
"It is now vital that all communities in Iraq work together to overcome those challenges. | "It is now vital that all communities in Iraq work together to overcome those challenges. |
"To do this, it will be important for interior and defence ministers to be appointed quickly and for Kurdish ministers to take up their positions in Baghdad." | "To do this, it will be important for interior and defence ministers to be appointed quickly and for Kurdish ministers to take up their positions in Baghdad." |