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First batch of US F-16 jets delivered to Iraq

Baghdad - Brett McGurk, US President Barack Obama's deputy envoy for the international coalition against Daesh, also confirmed the jets had arrived.

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Four US F-16 warplanes landed in Iraq on Monday, the first batch of a much-delayed delivery aimed at boosting the Iraqi military's capacity, the defence ministry said.
"Arrival of four F-16s at Balad air base," read a flash on the ministry's website, in an announcement also confirmed to AFP by the prime minister's office.
Brett McGurk, US President Barack Obama's deputy envoy for the international coalition against Daesh, also confirmed the jets had arrived.
"After years of preparation & training in the US, Iraqi pilots today landed the 1st squadron of Iraqi F16s in #Iraq," he said on social media.
The delivery had most recently been delayed over security concerns at Balad, which lies around 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Baghdad.

After years of preparation & training in the U.S., Iraqi pilots today landed the 1st squadron of Iraqi F16s in #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/nyOvnJ5Djt
- Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) July 13, 2015

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