Iraqi Officials: Iran Encouraged Russia to Conduct Attacks in Syria

Following reports about Iran's role and Qassem Soleimani's influence in initiating Russian airstrikes in Syria, the Associated Press has published a similar report citing Iraqi officials. Previously, Reuters had reported that the decision to commence Russian military operations in Syria was made after negotiations between Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, and Vladimir Putin. Last summer, there were reports of Soleimani's visit to Russia, despite international travel bans on this senior IRGC official, which Moscow denied. Russia has also denied the latest Reuters report. However, this time, the Associated Press has echoed the issue. On October 7, citing Iraqi government officials, it stated that following a 'three-hour meeting' last summer between 'Qassem Soleimani and Vladimir Putin', he requested the Russian president to carry out airstrikes in Syria and increase Russia's presence in Iraq. The topic of Iraq and increased cooperation with Russia had previously been raised on October 5, when the Iraqi army announced it was engaging in intelligence and security cooperation with Russia, Iran, and Syria to counter threats from the group known as the 'Islamic State'. The Associated Press quoted two unnamed Iraqi officials who are informed about the matter, stating that the Quds Force commander told the Russian president that conducting attacks in Syria is 'necessary'. From this report and the statements, it appears that Soleimani and Putin reviewed maps, intelligence, and photographs collected from Syria, indicating that 'extremist militants will expand their presence to the Caucasus region'. Russian media, including the Russian news agency Sputnik, had stated last month, shortly before the onset of Russian airstrikes, that the group known as the 'Islamic State' intended to establish a province in the territories of the Chechen, Ingush, Dagestan, and Kabardino-Balkaria republics. According to the Associated Press, during the 'meeting' between Putin and Soleimani, the topic of exchanges and cooperation among the four countries—Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria—was also discussed. Both Russia and Iran are considered key allies of Bashar al-Assad. For over a week, the Russian army has been conducting airstrikes in Syria. Moscow claims the targets of these attacks are the 'Islamic State' and 'terrorists'. However, the United States has stated that during the initial days of these attacks, '90 percent of the strikes' were against groups 'other than ISIS or Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists'. In this context, Russia bombarded the positions of Assad's opponents in Syria from the Caspian Sea, and more than '90 percent' of Russia's attacks in Syria are not against ISIS or Al-Qaeda. Russia claims that Iraq has not requested to conduct attacks in this country, and the United States has 'not yet made a decision' regarding a no-fly zone in Syria.