Article Posted on : - Mar 18, 2014

Hellfire loaded onto the rails of a US Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra. Photo: Wikipedia

BAGHDAD (AP): The US embassy to Iraq says that the United States has delivered 100 Hellfire missiles, along with assault rifles and ammunition as part of its anti-terrorism assistance to the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the US embassy said the delivery was made earlier this month in order to help bolster Iraq forces fighting a breakaway al-Qaida group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The statement promised to send more weapons to Iraq in the coming weeks.

Since late December, Iraq's western cities have seen fierce clashes pitting government security forces and their allies from tribal Sunni militias against al-Qaida-linked militants and other insurgent groups.

The insurgents hold the city of Fallujah and parts of the Anbar provincial capital, Ramadi.