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Fighting Isis in Iraq: How British soldiers and other European troops are helping train the Peshmerga Fighting Isis in Iraq: How British soldiers and other European troops are helping train the Peshmerga
(35 minutes later)
Wearing khaki uniforms and with Kalashnikovs in their hands, Kurdish fighters broke down the door of a half-built luxury villa not far from Irbil and braced themselves, guns raised, for hostile fire from the tiled entrance hall within. To shouts of encouragement from the German soldiers outside, they poured into the house, moving from room to room until they were confident they had it secured.Wearing khaki uniforms and with Kalashnikovs in their hands, Kurdish fighters broke down the door of a half-built luxury villa not far from Irbil and braced themselves, guns raised, for hostile fire from the tiled entrance hall within. To shouts of encouragement from the German soldiers outside, they poured into the house, moving from room to room until they were confident they had it secured.
Eighty miles away, supported by heavy US air bombardment, their compatriots were engaged in a savage battle to drive fighters loyal to Isis, the extreme jihadist group, further back from the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.Eighty miles away, supported by heavy US air bombardment, their compatriots were engaged in a savage battle to drive fighters loyal to Isis, the extreme jihadist group, further back from the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
There was no genuine opposition to the Kurdish units sweeping through the remains of the half-built housing project – a failed up-market property development, stalled by the war with Isis that began last year – but the fighters, few of whom had body armour, were deadly serious nonetheless. They are the beneficiaries of a dramatically beefed-up training programme by soldiers from Western members of the anti-Isis coalition which was launched in February.There was no genuine opposition to the Kurdish units sweeping through the remains of the half-built housing project – a failed up-market property development, stalled by the war with Isis that began last year – but the fighters, few of whom had body armour, were deadly serious nonetheless. They are the beneficiaries of a dramatically beefed-up training programme by soldiers from Western members of the anti-Isis coalition which was launched in February.
Kirkuk governor Najim Al-deen Omar, centre, visits Peshmerga forces on the edge of Kirkuk city on Monday (EPA)
About 100 British soldiers are among the foreign forces operating in the Kurdish region of Iraq, at least 40 of them instructing Peshmerga fighters in vital infantry skills alongside several hundred  members of the German, US, Italian, Norwegian and Dutch militaries – and The Independent was given a first glimpse of the sort of training the Kurdish fighters are receiving.About 100 British soldiers are among the foreign forces operating in the Kurdish region of Iraq, at least 40 of them instructing Peshmerga fighters in vital infantry skills alongside several hundred  members of the German, US, Italian, Norwegian and Dutch militaries – and The Independent was given a first glimpse of the sort of training the Kurdish fighters are receiving.
The Peshmerga gained fighting experience resisting the army of the former dictator Saddam Hussein from their mountain strongholds, but the fight against Isis, which swept through northern Iraq last June and advanced on Kurdish territory in August, is proving a greater challenge. More than 1,000 Peshmerga fighters have been killed so far, as they come up against rapidly changing Isis tactics, including the lethal use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).The Peshmerga gained fighting experience resisting the army of the former dictator Saddam Hussein from their mountain strongholds, but the fight against Isis, which swept through northern Iraq last June and advanced on Kurdish territory in August, is proving a greater challenge. More than 1,000 Peshmerga fighters have been killed so far, as they come up against rapidly changing Isis tactics, including the lethal use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Now some 300 fighters a month are having their urban fighting skills honed outside Irbil. British soldiers would not speak to The Independent but Lieutenant “Mark”, the leader of the German training team, who declined to give his full name for security reasons, said: “These guys are a kind of militia, not a conventional army. They have quick and good shooting skills because of their high experience in warfare but they know nothing about tactics on a complex level.”Now some 300 fighters a month are having their urban fighting skills honed outside Irbil. British soldiers would not speak to The Independent but Lieutenant “Mark”, the leader of the German training team, who declined to give his full name for security reasons, said: “These guys are a kind of militia, not a conventional army. They have quick and good shooting skills because of their high experience in warfare but they know nothing about tactics on a complex level.”
The high-intensity training programme, intended to instill greater cohesion and discipline as well as to impart specific skills, was begun after pleas from Kurdish officials.The high-intensity training programme, intended to instill greater cohesion and discipline as well as to impart specific skills, was begun after pleas from Kurdish officials.
“We train them in what they need, marksmanship skills such as hitting the target and not just having bullets flying in the air,” said Lieutenant Jurgen Bredtmann, a spokesman for the coalition’s training centre. “The Peshmerga are very experienced when it comes to fighting in the mountains, but this is not that helpful near a river with a view of 12 miles. If you want to go into towns and villages you need different tactics.”“We train them in what they need, marksmanship skills such as hitting the target and not just having bullets flying in the air,” said Lieutenant Jurgen Bredtmann, a spokesman for the coalition’s training centre. “The Peshmerga are very experienced when it comes to fighting in the mountains, but this is not that helpful near a river with a view of 12 miles. If you want to go into towns and villages you need different tactics.”
The German army has given the Peshmerga 16,000 German-made rifles with ammunition, 30 Milan anti-tank missile launchers and 500 rockets. Italian officers are training 22 Peshmerga specialists in the use of newly supplied Folgore anti-tank weapons, which have already enabled the Peshmerga to stop Isis armoured cars from attacking their lines without the need to call in air strikes. “This was psychologically hugely important for them,” Lt Bredtmann said.The German army has given the Peshmerga 16,000 German-made rifles with ammunition, 30 Milan anti-tank missile launchers and 500 rockets. Italian officers are training 22 Peshmerga specialists in the use of newly supplied Folgore anti-tank weapons, which have already enabled the Peshmerga to stop Isis armoured cars from attacking their lines without the need to call in air strikes. “This was psychologically hugely important for them,” Lt Bredtmann said.
British military advisers instruct Kurdish Peshmerga fighters during a training session at a shooting range in Arbil (AFP/Getty)
Jalil Abdullah Fatah, a Peshmerga captain who had been pulled back from the front line near Kirkuk for training, said: “Isis is developing new methods and we have to react to that. We have learnt a lot of defence tactics we’ll take back, as well as learning how to treat the injured and shoot in the proper way to save ammunition.”Jalil Abdullah Fatah, a Peshmerga captain who had been pulled back from the front line near Kirkuk for training, said: “Isis is developing new methods and we have to react to that. We have learnt a lot of defence tactics we’ll take back, as well as learning how to treat the injured and shoot in the proper way to save ammunition.”
A Peshmerga soldier for 18 years, he previously fought against Saddam’s forces. But  unlike his former foes, he says Isis fighters come from many countries with wide-ranging levels of military knowledge and unpredictable tactics.A Peshmerga soldier for 18 years, he previously fought against Saddam’s forces. But  unlike his former foes, he says Isis fighters come from many countries with wide-ranging levels of military knowledge and unpredictable tactics.
Kurdish officials have not committed to joining a mooted offensive to recapture Isis-held Mosul this spring, as announced by the US Central Command, citing fears of a backlash from the city’s predominantly Sunni Arab residents. But the Peshmerga are now positioned only 10 miles from Mosul.Kurdish officials have not committed to joining a mooted offensive to recapture Isis-held Mosul this spring, as announced by the US Central Command, citing fears of a backlash from the city’s predominantly Sunni Arab residents. But the Peshmerga are now positioned only 10 miles from Mosul.
Firing line: a Peshmerga fighter mans a checkpoint to the west of Irbil (AFP/Getty)
Meriwan Sadar, 25, one of the Peshmerga fighters undergoing training, was eager to get back to the Kirkuk front despite the lack of body armour – he has been injured twice by Isis bullets since last summer. Mr Sadar, who wears the cap of his former general, Sherko Fatih, who was killed by Isis in January, said: “It is my land and I can’t leave it. Even if I didn’t have a salary for one year, I wouldn’t stop.”Meriwan Sadar, 25, one of the Peshmerga fighters undergoing training, was eager to get back to the Kirkuk front despite the lack of body armour – he has been injured twice by Isis bullets since last summer. Mr Sadar, who wears the cap of his former general, Sherko Fatih, who was killed by Isis in January, said: “It is my land and I can’t leave it. Even if I didn’t have a salary for one year, I wouldn’t stop.”
Near Kirkuk today, Kurdish fighters began shelling Isis positions at dawn before advancing along a 20-mile front south-west of the city, seizing several villages. “This morning we launched an attack on three axes,” Major-General Omar Saleh Hassan told Reuters. “Our advances are continuing.” Isis militants are also fighting to hold the city of Tikrit, 70 miles south-west of Kirkuk, as Iraqi government forces close in.Near Kirkuk today, Kurdish fighters began shelling Isis positions at dawn before advancing along a 20-mile front south-west of the city, seizing several villages. “This morning we launched an attack on three axes,” Major-General Omar Saleh Hassan told Reuters. “Our advances are continuing.” Isis militants are also fighting to hold the city of Tikrit, 70 miles south-west of Kirkuk, as Iraqi government forces close in.
General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, used a brief visit to Baghdad yesterday to urge Iraq’s Shia-dominated government to deliver on its promise to reconcile with the Sunni minority, and to explain how it intends to balance its relations with Iran.General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, used a brief visit to Baghdad yesterday to urge Iraq’s Shia-dominated government to deliver on its promise to reconcile with the Sunni minority, and to explain how it intends to balance its relations with Iran.