Russian jets may be deployed in Iraq

BAGHDAD: Iraq might request Russian airstrikes against Islamic State on its soil soon and wants Moscow to have a bigger role than the US in the war against the militant group, the head of parliament’s defence and security committee said yesterday.

“We might be forced to ask Russia to launch airstrikes in Iraq soon. I think the upcoming few days or weeks Iraq will be forced to ask Russia to launch airstrikes, and that depends on their success in Syria,” Hakim al-Zamili said.

Iraq’s government and powerful Iranianbacked Shia militias question the US’s resolve in fighting Islamic State militants, who control athird of the country, saying US-led coalition airstrikes are ineffective.

Russian airstrikes against the government’s opponents in Syria have raised hopes in Baghdad that Russia could become involved. – Reuters