Iraq’s ruling alliance and powerful militias have urged Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to request Russian air strikes on the self-styled Islamic State (IS) militants, who control large parts of the country, members of the coalition and militias told Reuters.
America’s top general, Joseph Dunford, said on a trip to Baghdad on Tuesday that the United States (US) won assurances from Iraq that it would not seek such strikes.
Former Cold War foes the US and Russia are carrying out rival campaigns of air strikes in neighbouring Syria and speculation has been growing this could spill over into Iraq, a major Opec oil producer.
Abadi, his government and the Iranian-backed militias have all expressed frustration with the pace and depth of the US campaign against IS and signalled their intention to lean on Moscow, to the consternation of Washington.
Two members of parliament said the prime minister was under “tremendous pressure” from the ruling National Alliance to request Russian intervention.
Iraq received over $20 billion in US military training since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 but its army virtually collapsed in the face of an IS sweep through the north last year and made further gains in the west.
US-led air strikes have failed to turn the tide in the war against the militants.
MPs and alliance members said an official request was relayed to Abadi in a meeting last week and that he has not responded.
“Abadi told the meeting parties that it wasn’t the right time to include the Russians in the fight because that would only complicate the situation with the Americans and could have undesired consequences even on long-term future relations with America,” said a senior politician close to Abadi.
Russia, Iran, Syria and Iraq have formed a Baghdad-based intelligence cell in an attempt to boost efforts to counter the spread of IS in the region. The cell has already shared intelligence for air strikes in Iraq and Syria.
Muen al-Kadhimi, a senior aide to the leader of the Badr Brigade militia, said Russia had proven more decisive in its air campaign in Syria than the Americans so it was only natural to seek Moscow’s help in Iraq.
“I am positive that the government will respond to pressures, especially after the official mandate of the National Alliance for prime minister Abadi to request Russia’s participation,” he said.