What If Russia Is Asked to Fly Air Cover for Iraqi Forces?
The Iraqi military has taken a brutal
beating in its battles against ISIL. Even with the support of American
and coalition airpower, the Iraqis have lost untold material and
territory since ISIL overran much of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland
these last months. News now that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi
welcomes Russian airstrikes may not be what the Obama administration
foresaw, but it may well spell the end of ISIL in the region. Here’s a
look at the situation on the ground.
In an interview on France 24 television,
the Iraqi PM went so far as to accuse the U.S.-led coalition of a lack
of resolve in defeating ISIL. After over a year of massive bombing by
the US led coalition, ISIL still has a stranglehold on much of Iraq’s
territory. According to Abadi, the Iraqi leader seems frustrated at the
ineffectiveness of the air cover provided his country’s forces, as well
as at the widespread suffering the Islamic State has exacted. Now that
Russia air forces have begun a campaign to support the ground forces of
Syria’s Assad, the spotlight has spread to include the Iraqi front of
the war on ISIL.
the Iraqi PM went so far as to accuse the U.S.-led coalition of a lack
of resolve in defeating ISIL. After over a year of massive bombing by
the US led coalition, ISIL still has a stranglehold on much of Iraq’s
territory. According to Abadi, the Iraqi leader seems frustrated at the
ineffectiveness of the air cover provided his country’s forces, as well
as at the widespread suffering the Islamic State has exacted. Now that
Russia air forces have begun a campaign to support the ground forces of
Syria’s Assad, the spotlight has spread to include the Iraqi front of
the war on ISIL.
Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s
spokesperson encapsulated for reporters last week, Russia’s stance on
Syria and Iraq. The Kremlin spokesman said Russia is not only targeting
ISIS, but other groups and “organizations in coordination with the armed
forces of Syria.” While this is clearly not on the US agenda, the
strategy is in keeping with stabilizing first the Assad regime, and then
the overall regional situation. At least this is how President Putin
and his advisers portray the Russian campaign.
First appeared: http://journal-neo.org/2015/10/05/what-if-russia-is-asked-to-fly-air-cover-for-iraqi-forces/
spokesperson encapsulated for reporters last week, Russia’s stance on
Syria and Iraq. The Kremlin spokesman said Russia is not only targeting
ISIS, but other groups and “organizations in coordination with the armed
forces of Syria.” While this is clearly not on the US agenda, the
strategy is in keeping with stabilizing first the Assad regime, and then
the overall regional situation. At least this is how President Putin
and his advisers portray the Russian campaign.
First appeared: http://journal-neo.org/2015/10/05/what-if-russia-is-asked-to-fly-air-cover-for-iraqi-forces/
