U.S. Expediting (800) Hellfire-Missile (used on US drones) Shipments to Iraq

WASHINGTON—The U.S. is speeding up shipments of 800 Hellfire missiles to Iraq to help the embattled Baghdad government beat back the threat posed by Sunni militants, the Pentagon said Friday.

In response to the expanding militant attacks in Iraq, the U.S. is planning to deliver 200 Hellfire missiles in the coming weeks and 600 more by the end of July, said Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary.

The expedited plans would give a significant boost to Iraq's missile stockpile. The U.S. has sent about 300 Hellfire missiles to Iraq this year.

Confronting militants threatening to take Baghdad, the Iraqi government has also asked the U.S. for several hundred additional Hellfire missiles, along with extra ammunition, grenades, small arms and flares, said Adm. Kirby.

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