Estonia ready to send instructors to Iraq to train forces fighting ISIL
TALLINN. Dec 9 (Interfax) - The Estonian Defense Ministry does not rule out sending its military personnel to Iraq to combat ISIL, its press secretary Andres Sang told Interfax on Wednesday.
He said that there are no Estonian troops in Iraq now, and no such missions are planned for 2016.
However, if based on a working analysis conducted by the ministry, that the sending of Estonian troops to the region is deemed useful, the government will seek corresponding permission from parliament, Sang said.
"For instance, we could send instructors to train Iraqi servicemen taking part in the fight against ISIL," he said.
Sang said he does not know whether Estonia, along with Sweden, Norway and Finland, has received an official request from the U.S. to join the fight against ISIL.
"However, since 2014, we have supported the antiterrorist effort in Iraq by sending arms and ammunition," he said.
He said Iraq was supplied with submachine guns, automatic guns and pistols of Soviet, Chinese and Romanian manufacture, along with 12 mortars of 120 mm caliber and ammunition for them from Estonian Defense Forces' Stocks.
On Tuesday, Finland, Sweden and Norway received official requests to join the antiterrorist operation against ISIL. On Wednesday, Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto expressed readiness to send instructors to Iraq.
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