Germany sends first plane carrying aid to northern Iraq

Germany's armed forces on Friday began sending aid supplies to northern Iraq where thousands of people have fled Islamic State militants, and the defense minister said Germany was looking into whether it would also deliver military equipment. The first plane set off for Arbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, carrying medicines, food and blankets and further aid flights were planned for the day. "Of course this is just the beginning and we're working hard on sending further aid if necessary and it's becoming apparent that is the case," Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told reporters at Hohn airbase in northern Germany. "Germany does not have such weapon systems and could also not deliver them," she said. Read More http://ift.tt/1m0FRCT