Iraq and Russia is planning to deepen its military ties with Russia. According to Iraq’s Defense Ministry, Baghdad is considering deepening military coordination with Moscow. The revelation comes amid strained Baghdad-Washington relations after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian general inside Iraq.
The Defense Ministry made the revelation following discussion held in the capital Baghdad between Iraqi army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Othman Al-Ghanimi and Russian Ambassador Maksim Maksimov, as well as a newly arrived defense attache.
There have been strains between Iraq and U.S. following the Jan. 3 U .S. drone strike that killed Iran’s most powerful military commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Iraqi senior militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad airport.
Iraqi’s army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Al-Ghanimi lauded Russia’s role in the battle against the Islamic State group. The General noted that Moscow had provided Iraqi’s armed forces with advanced and reliable military hardware including weapons that have played a major role in resolving many battles against the insurgent groups.
Iraqi Ministry of Defense through a statement noted that the two discussed on prospects of military cooperation and coordination with both parties agreeing on the importance of sharing, exchanging intelligence and coordination to thwart the resurgence of the Islamic State.
Maksimov extended an invitation to al-Ghanimi to visit Russia to meet his counterpart within the framework of strengthening cooperation between the two sides.
