Iraq PM visits Russia to talk arms deal in fight against ISIL

World Today

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi flew to Moscow for meetings with his Russian counterparts. He’s expected to work on arms deals to help Iraq’s army fight Islamic State. ISIL forces have recently overrun the Iraqi city of Ramadi, just 130 kilometers (about 80 miles) west of the capital, Baghdad.

CCTV’s Tom Barton filed this report from Moscow.

Follow Tom Barton on Twitter @TomBartonJourno

Highlights:

  • Russia has already supplied Iraq with Sukhoi fighter jets and helicopters.
  • There have been delays in the supply of U.S. weaponry that Iraq had been expecting under a deal with Washington. As a result, Baghdad is increasingly looking elsewhere for military purchases, including Iran and Russia.
  • Prime Minister Abadi leads a large delegation to Moscow that includes several ministers and a number of civil and military advisers. Russia has been trying to build up trade with a number of Middle Eastern countries.
  • A U.S. lead air campaign and Iranian backed Shiite paramilitary groups could be joined by Russian weapons as part of efforts to bolster the Iraqi army.