AMMAN, July 28: Iraq's nascent air force will take delivery of its first two new aircraft on Thursday, the start of a new surveillance force for protecting its borders and oil facilities.

Jordanian officials said the two Seabird Seeker (SB7L-360) aircraft, made by Seabird Aviation-Jordan, a joint Jordanian- Australian venture, would be handed over to Iraqi officials in Amman and then flown to Basra.

"Tomorrow we will hand over the first two aircraft to the Iraqi air force," said Omar Massarweh, operations manager at Seabird Aviation-Jordan. -Reuters