(VOVworld) – Iraq has received the first batch of jet fighters it ordered from Russia to help it fight against Sunni rebels, the Iraqi Defense Ministry on Sunday said.

A modernized Sukhoi Su-35S of the Russian Air Force

The five Sukhoi attack aircrafts will enter service in a couple of days, to bolster the Air Force’s strength and support other security forces in fighting terrorism in Iraq. Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said his government had signed contracts with Russia and Belarus to buy second hand jet fighters worth 500 million USD. Iraq fell into the worst security conditions ever over the past 2 weeks when armed Sunni rebels of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched surprise attacks that gained control over large part of  northern and western Iraq.