Baghdad Has No Plans to Turn to Russia for Airstrikes Against Daesh

Iraqi defense minsiter said that Baghdad did not need Russia's assistance in targeting Daesh with airstrikes.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – Baghdad currently has no plans to request Russia’s help in delivering airstrikes against Daesh targets in the country, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said.

“The Iraqi Army is so far maintaining. The international coalition is also playing a large and positive role in supporting our troops on the ground. So we don’t need an additional help. The topic is a bit ticklish to some extent because of regional forces. Maybe at another time. So far, thank God, we are dealing with Daesh with our own forces,” al-Obeidi said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Daesh is prohibited in numerous countries including the United States and Russia.

The militant group has proclaimed a caliphate on the vast territories of Iraq and Syria that it has captured, and keeps local people at bay by committing attacks, bombings and various human rights atrocities.

Since September 30, Moscow has been conducting pinpoint airstrikes in war-torn Syria on the positions of Daesh at President Bashar Assad's request.

At about the same time, Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran created the Baghdad Information Center to coordinate joint military action against Daesh. The four countries are represented by officers of the national armed forces, whose primary task is to collect and analyze data related to militant operations in the region.