US Delivers First F-16 Fighters to Iraq

BAGHDAD (Press TV) – The United States has delivered the first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Iraq to be employed in the fight against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

Date: 14 July 2015 - 21:27

News ID: ۱۶۱۰۸

"After years of preparation & training in the US, Iraqi pilots today landed the 1st squadron of Iraqi F16s in #Iraq," tweeted Brett McGurk, the administration’s deputy special presidential envoy to the coalition against the ISIL, on Monday.
The four jets were delivered to the Iraqi military at the Balad air base, confirmed an Iraqi air force official.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby has said the US would help the Iraqi government to prevent the jets from ending up in the hands of the terrorists.
"Of course we're concerned about the security situation on the ground, and not just with respect to aircraft, but any other equipment that could be damaged … by ISIL,” he said during a press briefing.
"F-16 jets are a little bit different,” Kirby noted, adding ISIL "has no air force and has no capability or ability to fly advanced fighter aircraft.”
Kirby said, "If they are going to be flown in combat over the skies of Iraq, they will be flown by Iraqi pilots.”
Iraq has previously ordered 36 of the fighter aircraft worth $65 million. However, the US has delayed delivering the fighter jets due to security concerns that ISIL forces might overrun Balad, which is located about 45 miles from Baghdad.
"The aircraft are designed and were purchased by Iraq for their self defense. The fight inside Iraq right now is against ISIL. And our expectation is that if and when they start flying missions and combat sorties in Iraq, that's what they'll be used for: not to go after -- not to contribute to any sectarian issues inside Iraq,” Kirby added.
The ISIL group started its terrorist activities in Iraq in early June 2014. The heavily armed terrorists took control of Mosul before sweeping through other parts of the country.