OULU (Finland) (Sputnik) — Lavrov said that when efforts between the central government of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan to fight terrorism require reinforcement, Russia provides support for Iraqi Kurds with the explicit consent of the Iraqi government.
"In the context of the fight against terrorism and strengthening the defense capability in confronting Islamic State [ISIL] and other similar groups, we provide military and technical assistance to sovereign governments, including the governments of Iraq and Syria," Lavrov told reporters.
ISIL has captured large areas in Syria and Iraq. Its advance is being countered by the airstrikes of a US-led coalition, as well as an air campaign by Russia. Kurdish forces, as well as Syrian and Iraqi troops, are fighting extremists on the ground.
