British troops train Kurdish fighters

The British army is training Kurdish fighters in Iraq, hoping to give them an edge in their battle against Islamic State.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) YAZIDI PESHMERGA, PASHA SHAMMO, SAYING:

"In this course, the British trained us to use the machine gun. We have learned how to fire this weapon and - God willing - we can now use it against the enemy. God willing, we will be ready soon to go to Sinjar and defeat Islamic State."

So far, Britain has sent 40 machine guns.

But the Kurds want heavier weapons to fight the militants, who now control vast areas in Syria and Iraq.

The conflict has been centred around the mainly Kurdish town of Kobani in Syria.

Air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition have stalled the advance of militants, who are fighting to control territory along the Turkish border.