Iraq Begins 'Bombing ISIS Positions' with Intelligence Cooperation from Russia and Iran

An Iraqi parliament representative stated on Tuesday, October 13, that the country has begun airstrikes against positions of the Islamic State group with the help of a new intelligence center led by Iraq, Russia, Iran, and Syria. This intelligence cooperation among these countries is seen as a threat to U.S. interests in the region. Reuters reports, citing Hakim al-Zamili, head of the Defense and Security Commission of the Iraqi parliament, that this intelligence center started its work about a week ago and has gathered necessary information for attacks on a gathering of several Islamic State commanders. The establishment of this new security entity in Baghdad indicates that the U.S. government is losing much of its influence in this oil-rich region where it has invested for years. Two weeks ago, despite Western opposition, Russia began airstrikes against opponents of Bashar al-Assad's government, including the Islamic State group. Iraqi leaders, dissatisfied with the speed and scope of U.S. military operations against the Islamic State, have announced that they will increasingly rely on Russia in their fight against insurgents. According to an Iraqi official who requested anonymity, two Russian army generals are now stationed at the Baghdad intelligence-security center. Hakim al-Zamili, a senior Shiite politician in Iraq, stated that each of the four member countries in this joint security and intelligence entity has six representatives. Meetings of this entity are held in the heavily protected area of Baghdad known as the 'Green Zone,' which was previously the headquarters of U.S. military forces. An unnamed Iraqi official said, 'The establishment of this security entity is very beneficial. Its central idea is to organize and formalize Iraq's relations with Russia, Iran, and Syria. We wanted comprehensive and complete military cooperation.' Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has also stated that he welcomes Russian airstrikes against the Islamic State group in the country. Iraqi army forces and Iranian-backed Shiite militias fighting against Islamic State militants claim that the U.S. government lacks the decisive will to destroy this group. However, the U.S. and its allies deny this claim. Reuters recalls that airstrikes by the U.S.-led international coalition have so far failed to change the balance of power in favor of Iraqi forces. The Islamic State group now controls part of Iraq's oil production resources, has seized about a third of the country's territory, and brutally suppresses its opponents and followers of other religions and sects. The head of the Defense and Security Commission of the Iraqi parliament stated that the Iraqi air force recently attacked an Islamic State convoy based on information from the joint security entity, which was suspected of carrying Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group's leader. However, later Iraqi security officials stated that he was not in that convoy. Hakim al-Zamili added, 'Even if Russia does not conduct airstrikes in Iraqi territory, we can make extensive use of their intelligence.' Sami al-Askari, a former member of the Iraqi parliament who was once a senior advisor to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said Iraq is well aware of the sensitivities of this new security cooperation. He added, 'The Iraqi government intends to advance this cooperation in a way that does not signify the rejection of the Americans.'