President Francois Hollande said the arms were being sent in response "to the urgent need expressed by the Kurdistan regional authorities," according to a statement from his office.

"France intends to play an active role by providing, along with its partners and in liaison with the new Iraqi authorities, all the assistance required," the statement added.

Describing the weapons as "sophisticated," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said it was hoped that the weapons would "rebalance the forces" fighting in Iraq.

"We want to help the Kurds and Iraqis prevent massacres and for that we are supplying weapons that will allow fighters to fight and, we hope, to win," he told French television channel TF1 on Wednesday.

Fabius added that EU foreign ministers would hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday to coordinate a European response to the crisis in Iraq.

Over the weekend, Paris provided 18 tonnes of humanitarian aid and a new shipment of 20 tonnes of aid was due to arrive in northern Iraq later Wednesday.

Hollande reiterated France's support for Iraq's premier designate Haidar al-Abadi and urged the formation of a "unity government, representing all Iraqis, to fight effectively against Islamic State."

The French leader said the population in Kurdish areas of Iraq was facing a "catastrophic situation" which "called for the continuation and intensification of efforts by the international community."

"For several days, France has taken the necessary measures to support the operational capabilities of the forces fighting Islamic State," Hollande stressed.

On Tuesday, Britain said it would transport military supplies from other countries to Kurdish forces battling the militants amid Western fears the crisis could spread throughout the region.

The United States has already said it was rushing weapons to the Kurdish forces and has carried out air strikes to halt the advance of the Islamic extremists.