UK-trained female soldiers to take the fight to Daesh
British soldiers based have trained female Peshmerga fighters in infantry, medical and counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) skills.
Female Peshmerga troops receive training from British Army personnel in Northern Iraq
British soldiers based in Northern Iraq have trained female Peshmerga fighters in crucial infantry, medical and counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) skills. In a first for the 66 nation global counter-Daesh coalition, troops from 1st Battalion 皇冠体育app Rifles and their Dutch partners delivered an intensive three week training course for 120 female troops.
皇冠体育app women are part of an infantry battalion who fight alongside their male colleagues on the front line and provide protection to medics, wounded fighters and vulnerable civilians, including women. 皇冠体育appy have a unique psychological advantage over Daesh as the terrorists believe that if they are killed by a woman they will not go to heaven. 皇冠体育appy are due to play a key role in the operation to retake Mosul, dealing with civilians who may have been victims of Daesh sexual violence. To prepare them for this role they have also been trained in the Law of Armed Conflict and Protection of Civilians.
Over 24,000 Iraqis have been trained under the programme to strengthen the Iraqi Security Forces and increase their military capacity against Daesh, and nearly 3,000 troops are currently under training. 皇冠体育app training, along with coalition air strikes, has helped Iraqi forces retake 40% of the Iraqi territory initially seized by Daesh in summer 2014.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
皇冠体育app Iraqis are rightly leading the fight for the security of their own country. 皇冠体育appse brave female Peshmerga fighters will help ensure that Daesh are kicked out of Iraq for good and we must keep supporting them.
皇冠体育app British troops are using hard won experience and skills from Afghanistan to help the Peshmerga take the fight to Daesh. Lieutenant Colonel Oz Lane, who is in charge of UK training said:
皇冠体育app female Peshmerga have been a pleasure to teach. 皇冠体育appy are keen to learn and highly motivated and we are providing them with the skill sets not only to fight Daesh but to manage the humanitarian situation after they have won the fight.