Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov has told reporters at the 6th Xiangshan Security Forum in the Chinese capital of Beijing that his country’s actions in Syria are in accordance with international law, and that should Iraq make a formal request for assistance in its fight against Islamic State (IS), Russia would consider it.
“In case we receive a request, we shall consider it accordingly. What I can say now is that as of today we do not have a request from Iraq like the one we have from Bashar al-Assad.”
He continued, forcing the point that Russia is working specifically against IS, and not merely pro-Syrian regime. “As there are very many insinuations about Syria, I would like to stress we have a written request from Assad for a military and military-technical assistance in fighting IS.
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“We stress we are acting on a legal base and in compliance with the international law.”
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Senior Iraqi officials have made overtures towards the Russians, expressing dismay at the perceived lack of progress being made by the US-led coalition currently targeting the jihadists in Iraq.
Hakim al-Zamili, chair of the parliamentary committee on defence and security, said earlier this month, “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.”
Source: BasNews
