Four new F16 fighter jets arrive in Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region-- Iraq's ministry of defense announced Sunday it had received four new F16 aircrafts from the US as part of its nearly $2 billion purchase of 36 such warplanes. 

The US has so far delivered 10 F16 aircrafts in three phases since 2014.

Iraqi officials have said the single engine, all-weather military aircrafts will enhance the airforce's capability to target ISIS inside Mosul when the looming operation sets off.  

"The new aircrafts will have a substantial impact on the advancing ground troops especially when the Mosul offensive starts," said Nasir Nouri a spokesperson from the ministry on Sunday.

The US temporarily postponed the delivery of the planes in 2014 after ISIS takeover of army installations in Nineveh province. The planes were instead sent to an Arizona air base where Iraqi pilots were being trained to fly the advanced aircraft.  

A total of 26 pilots are expected to be trained, and 16 have been in training so far. US Air Force officials have said the Iraqis are being trained by the Air National Guard Unit at Tucson International Airport.

"The Iraqis have put those to good use," Colonel Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State told Reuters in February. "We look forward to this additional capability along with the additional trained pilots."