NATO Decides to Provide Defense Assistance Package to Iraq

NATO and Iraqi experts will elaborate training programs to be held in Turkey and Jordan.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The North Atlantic Council agreed on Friday a defense capacity building package for Iraq to help strengthen the country's security and defense sector in light of the fight against terrorism, NATO said in a statement.

"The package includes measures of support in seven priority areas: advice on security sector reform; countering improvised explosive devices, explosive ordnance disposal and de-mining; civil military planning; cyber defense; military medicine and medical assistance; military training; and civil emergency planning," the statement said.

According to the document, "NATO and Iraqi experts will now work on the details of the training programs, which will be held in Turkey and Jordan."

The support package has been developed upon Iraq’s request and in "close consultation with the Iraqi authorities," and aims to complement the efforts of an international coalition to counter the Islamic State activities, according to the statement.

ISIL is a radical Sunni group that has captured large areas in Iraq and Syria, establishing a caliphate on the territories under their control.

The US-led 62-nation coalition began its airstrikes campaign against ISIL terrorists in Iraq in August 2014, and expanded the air campaign to Syria in September 2014.