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The Russia-Syria-Iran-Iraq Coalition was formed after the Iraqi Joint Operations Command announced that Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria would "help and cooperate in collecting information about the terrorist Daesh (ISIS)", In order to help combat the advances of the group. The announcement also cited "the increasing concern from Russia about thousands of Russian terrorists committing criminal acts within ISIS."

In October 2015, it was revealed that the Russia-Syria-Iran-Iraq coalition may have been devised during the visit by Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Quds Force, to Moscow in July 2015. In the early days of the campaign, the Russian Air Force had significant ground support from the Syrian military, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and allied militias. The United States, along with its Western and Arab allies, have criticized this coalition; most airstrikes during the first week of the campaign, they allege, struck areas held by rebel groups opposed to both the Syrian government and ISIS. Several months of air strikes conducted by the US-led coalition, ostensibly against ISIL targets, however, failed to prevent the expansion of ISIS.

Background

Syria's civil war started when opposing groups in the country protested against Assad's rule in early 2011, the protests ultimately turning violent and drawing-in regional opponents and supporters of Assad. The war is being conducted between multiple opposition and government groups. More than 250,000 people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced. With most opponents, and their western allies, demanding Assad's departure as a precondition for talks, efforts to find a solution have failed thus far. Recently, however, Western countries have said Assad could play some role in a transition. In response, Assad has explained that, "in regard to their recent statements about a transitional period and other issues, I say clearly that it's not up to any foreign official to decide Syria's future." He has accused the US and its allies of hypocrisy for their support for insurgents, saying that air strikes by Syrian jets, now joined by Russia, have been far more productive than anything performed by the year-long air operations by the US and its Western and Arab allies. "Countries which support terrorism cannot battle terrorism," he stated. "That's the truth of the coalition that we see... That's why after a year and several months we see no results." "We see the opposite... terrorism has spread geographically and won more volunteers and recruits".

Russia in September 2015 started sending its own Russian-operated warplanes and other military hardware as well as combat troops to an airbase near the port city of Latakia in Syria. The action was undertaken at an official request by the Syrian government headed by President Bashar al-Assad, who After the loss of Idlib province to a rebel offensive in the first half of 2015, the situation was judged to have become critical for his survival. High level talks were held between Moscow and Tehran in the first half of 2015 and a political agreement was achieved. In October 2015, it was revealed that the Russian operation in Syria may have been devised during the visit by Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Quds Force, to Moscow in July 2015, which was then denied by Russian officials.

The agreement

At the end of September 2015, a joint information centre in Baghdad was set up by Iran, Iraq, Russia and Syria to coordinate their operations against ISIL According to Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov′s statement made in mid-October 2015, prior to the start of its operations in Syria, Russia invited the U.S. to join the Baghdad-based information center but received what he called an "unconstructive" response. Putin′s proposal that the U.S. receive a high-level Russian delegation and that a U.S. delegation arrive in Moscow to discuss co-operation in Syria was likewise declined by the U.S. After a formal request from the Syrian government for military help against rebel and jihadist groups in Syria, the coalition started its work. It is generally thought that Iran will play a leading role in the ground operations of Syria's army and allies, whilst Russia will be leading in the air in conjunction with the Syrian air force, thereby establishing a complementary role. For Western countries and the Russia-Syria-Iran-Iraq coalition ISIS has been a common enemy, although each country has very different friends and opposing views of how to solve the crisis.

In an interview with Iranian TV, Assad said that the success of this military agreement was vital to save the Middle East from destruction. He said that the year-long air campaign by US-led coalition had been counterproductive and had helped terrorism to spread and win new recruits, but that the new coalition of Russia, Syria, Iran, and Iraq, could achieve real results.

Iran's role

Other than being a crucial thoroughfare to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria has been the only consistent ally for Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. Iran has provided significant support for the Syrian Government in the Syrian Civil War, including logistical, technical and financial support. In April 2014, Hossein Amir-Abdolahian, Iranian deputy foreign minister, said: "We aren’t seeking to have Bashar Assad remain president for life. But we do not subscribe to the idea of using extremist forces and terrorism to topple Assad and the Syrian government." On 24 July General Qasem Soleimani visited Moscow to devise the details of the plan for coordinated military action in Syria. In October 2015, it was revealed that the Russia-Syria-Iran-Iraq coalition may have been devised during his visit.

Citing two Lebanese sources, Reuters reported on October 1, 2015 that hundreds of Iranian troops arrived in Syria over the previous 10 days and would soon join Syrian government forces and their Lebanese Hezbollah allies in a major ground offensive backed by Russian air strikes. Iran has also been training Iraqi Shia militias who are fighting ISIS.

Reactions

•  US: The US-led coalition that is launching its own air strikes against ISIS demanded that Russia stop attacking targets other than ISIS. “We call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians and to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL,” said the US-led coalition. it also objected to Assad's participation in the intelligence sharing. By the opposition other than ISIS it is meant the groups have received training and weapons from US and other Assad's enemies. “We do not support the presence of Syrian government officials who are part of a regime that has brutalized its own citizens,” said Col. Steven H. Warren, the spokesman for the US-led coalition.

•  United Kingdom: "They are backing the butcher Assad, which is a terrible mistake, for them and the world," said British Prime Minister David Cameron.

See also

• Iranian involvement in the Syrian Civil War
• Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War

References

1. ^ Mullen, Jethro. "Iraq agrees to share intelligence with Russia, Iran and Syria". CNN. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
2. "Iraq, Russia, Iran and Syria coordinate against ISIL". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
3. ^ GORDON, MICHAEL. "Russia Surprises U.S. With Accord on Battling ISIS". New York Times. Retrieved 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
4. ^ Jay Solomon; Sam Dagher (21 September 2015). "Russia, Iran Seen Coordinating on Defense of Assad Regime in Syria". The Wall Street Journal.
5. ^ "How Iranian general plotted out Syrian assault in Moscow". Reuters. 6 October 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
6. ^ "Israeli official: Iran mastermind went to Russia – Business Insider". Business Insider. 10 September 2015.
7. ^ "Ъ - Иранский генерал потерялся между Тегераном и Москвой". kommersant.ru. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
8. "Iran Prepares Ground Action in Syria With Russian Air Cover". Breitbart.
9. ^ "US, allies ask Russia to halt strikes outside IS areas in Syria". REUTERS. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
10. Nissenbaum, Dion (14 January 2015). "Months of Airstrikes Fail to Slow Islamic State in Syria". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
11. ^ EVANS AND AL-KHALIDI, SULEIMAN , DOMINIC. "Assad says Russian air campaign vital to save Middle East". Reuters. Retrieved October 4, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. Alec Luhn (14 September 2015). "Russia sends artillery and tanks to Syria as part of continued military buildup". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
13. Manal. "Syria's ambassador to Russia urges all countries to join Syria and Russia against terrorism". Syrian Arab News Agency.
14. ^ "МИД России: иранский генерал Сулеймани в Москве не был". Радио Свобода. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
15. "Russia, Iran, Iraq & Syria setting up 'joint information center' to coordinate anti-ISIS operations". RT English.
16. "Russia's Lavrov says Washington declines deeper military talks on Syria". NEWSru. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
17. "US refuses to receive PM Medvedev's delegation to coordinate anti-terrorist actions in Syria". RT English. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
18. ""Это обидно": Лавров сообщил, что США отказались принять делегацию РФ для обсуждения сирийского кризиса". NEWSru. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
19. "Russia carries out first air strikes in Syria". Al Jazeera. 30 September 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
20. "Iranian troops join ground offensive in Syria". The Globe and Mail.
21. Iran boosts support to Syria, telegraph, 21 Feb 2014
22. Moghtader, Michelle (April 4, 2014). "Iran does not seek indefinite power for Assad, senior diplomat says". The Daily Star ( Lebanon ). Retrieved April 6, 2014.
23. "Cameron condemns Russia's military action in Syria as 'terrible mistake' – video". The Guardian. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.

• Iran–Syria relations
• Iran–Iraq relations
• Iran–Russia relations
• Iraq–Syria relations
• Iraq–Russia relations
• Russia–Syria relations
• Battles of the Syrian Civil War
• Battles involving Russia
• 2015 in the Syrian Civil War
• Airstrikes