New US arms shipments for Iraq to fight al Qaeda

Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren Friday confirmed Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki’s request for arms, adding the US will send “several thousand” M-16 and M-4 rifles, as well as ammunition that should arrive in Iraq in weeks. In discussion too are officials to Jordan to train Iraqi security forces. Baghdad’s request for 100 Hellfire missiles is subject to congressional approval. Since 2005, the US has delivered more than $14 bn in equipment and training to Iraq.