Kuwait expressed the desire Wednesday to purchase an unspecified number of Airbus transport helicopters for its air force.

The emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, told French President Francois Hollande during a phone call of the government's interest, said a statement from the royal court cited by the official KUNA news agency.

No details were provided about the number of aircraft to be bought or the value of the deal.

The two leaders also discussed defence cooperation between the two countries, the statement said.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian paid a short visit to Kuwait City on Monday during which he held talks with the emir and his Kuwaiti counterpart.

Kuwait donates $300 mn humanitarian aid to Iraq, Yemen
Kuwait City (AFP) June 10, 2015 - Kuwait is to send $300 million in humanitarian aid to conflict-hit neighbours Iraq and Yemen, the foreign ministry announced Wednesday.

The oil-rich Gulf state will send $200 million to Iraq and $100 million to Yemen "amidst a humanitarian crisis in the region", said the ministry's international organisations head Jassem al-Mubaraki, quoted by state news agency KUNA.

Fierce battles have been raging in Iraq between Islamic State jihadists and the army backed by Shiite militia.

Yemen has been under Saudi-led air strikes targeting Shiite Huthi rebels and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.