Baghdad, Russia’s ally in its fight against ISIS, wants Russia to have a bigger role in the anti-terrorist campaign in Iraq than the US and may soon officially request to start airstrikes on its soil, the chairman of Iraqi parliament’s defense committee said.
“We might be forced to ask Russia to launch airstrikes in Iraq soon. I think in the upcoming few days or weeks Iraq will be forced to ask Russia to launch airstrikes and that depends on their success in Syria,” said Hakim al-Zamili, Reuters reported.
“We are seeking to see Russia having a bigger role in Iraq… Yes, definitely a bigger role than the Americans,” Zamili said.
The popular Iraqi Satellite TV channel AnwarTV2 has conducted an extensive poll to find out what people think about Russian military participation in the war against ISIL in Iraq. The poll shows that people claim that Russia get involved in Iraq. 90 percent of those asked want Russian participation. Only 8 percent did not want Russian participation, while 2 percent had no opinion. Additionally AnwarTV2 Satellite TV conducted several interviews in the major Iraqi cities like Baghdad, Basra, Kut and Karbala. These TV interviews gave a strong support to Russia in the fight against terrorists in Syria.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told France 24 on Tuesday that his government would welcome Russian warplanes in Iraq.
US fears that Russia will support al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraqi volunteer forces) in Iraq in the fight against ISIL. Al-Hashd al-Shaabi has in recent months released several cities and lands from ISIL like Jurf al Sakhar, Amirli, Diyala, Tikrit and half of Bayji. The US has repeatedly tried to undermine and thwart Al-Hashd al-Shaabi by delaying (dates and times) weapon delivery to Iraqi government for fear that these weapons could fall into the hands of Al-Hashd al-Shaabi. Iran from its side managed to deliver weapons to the Iraqi authorities, which further ensured that Iraqi volunteers forces managed to win the battlefield against ISIL. Precisely this has worried the United States.
