MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US claims that a possible Russian Aerospace Forces campaign against Islamic State (ISIL) militants in Iraq could undermine US-led coalition efforts in the country are politically motivated, Russian Ambassador in Baghdad Ilya Morgunov said Monday.
"If everything is correctly coordinated, the participation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, on the contrary, would help the Americans in the fight against ISIL in Iraq,” Morgunov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to the ambassador, Moscow asked Washington to share intelligence information for coordination of the fight in Syria, but the United States has refused to cooperate.
On September 30, Russia launched an air campaign against ISIL targets in Syria following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. According to Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, Baghdad has not made a request for assistance.
