RAF Chinooks now considered for Iraq aid crisis

12 Aug 2014 By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent

British Chinook helicopters could soon join RAF transport planes and Tornado jets operating in Iraq as the UK rapidly escalates its aid mission

Britain is considering sending Chinook helicopters to Iraq to bolster an aid mission for thousands of desperate refugees fleeing Islamist extremists demanding they convert or die.

The heavy lift helicopters would join two RAF C130 Hercules planes already carrying out aid drops and Tornado jets on their way to the region, as Britain rapidly steps up efforts to save a quarter of a million people fleeing fighting in northern Iraq.

The proposal was being discussed in a meeting of Government’s COBR emergencies committee on Tuesday afternoon.

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