05/08/2014 10:25
Iraq offers air support to Kurdish fighters
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has ordered the air force to provide support to Kurdish forces fighting Sunni militants in the north, the BBC reported.
It comes after the Islamic State (formerly known as Isis) seized two towns and two nearby oilfields from Kurdish troops over the weekend.
Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, say they are planning a counter-attack.
Militants seized large swathes of northern Iraq from government control in June.
Since then, relations between the autonomous Kurdistan Region and Baghdad have been strained. Correspondents say Mr Maliki's offer of air support could indicate a degree of rapprochement in the face of the Islamic State advance.
In a statement on Monday, Iraqi army spokesman Qassem Atta said: "The commander in chief of the armed forces has issued orders to the leadership of the air force and the army's aviation units to provide air support to Peshmerga forces."
Kurdish leaders have not yet responded to the offer.