USA to hand over Iraqi pilots first F-16 this month, says PM’s Office

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister’s office announced, that the United States will hand over Iraqi pilots the first F-16 jet fighter to start using it for making progress in the fight against the ISIS group militants.

The PM’s spokesman, Saad al-Hadithi, “During the recent visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to Iraq, it had been confirmed that the U.S. will hand over Iraqi pilots the first F-16 during the current month in order to accelerate the process of preparing security forces with weaponry and equipment to make progress against ISIS.”

Noteworthy, the first batch of F-16 jet fighters had been delayed earlier this year due to security concerns, and then were sent to Tucson, Arizona, where seven Iraqi pilots have been trained to use the air crafts during the past few weeks.

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