Iraqi government overlooks Russian arms shipments to Assad

Iraqi airspace over last few days became an air corridor for Russian air shipments loaded with arms and rockets on their way to Syria,   a senior official in the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) old  al-Araby al-Jadeed

The official said that this was contrary to article eight of the Iraqi Constitution in force in the country since 2005, which prevents interference in the affairs of neighbouring countries or fomenting violence within them.

The official said that a Russian Antonov cargo plane had entered Iraqi airspace coming from Iran and crossed into Syrian airspace at dawn on Tuesday.

The Iraqi official who requested anonymity said: "The Russian plane entered Iraqi airspace from the Iranian province of Kermanshah to Sulaymaniyah, and then to Diyala province, and then it took a safe route in western Iraq to enter Syrian airspace, according to the air monitoring bulletin of the ICAA."

He also pointed out that "Russian cargo planes entering Iraqi airspace on their way to Syria have become commonplace and no comment is issued by the concerned parties following the daily report that is sent by the ICAA to the government, represented by the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi."

This comes amid reports that Russia is building up its military presence at a Syrian airport near Latakia. The BBC has provided a satellite image that was taken last week, allegedly showing construction at Latakia's airport.

The BBC also quoted Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis to have said: "We have seen indications in recent days that Russia has moved people and things into the area around Latakia and the air base there that suggests that it intends to establish some sort of a forward air operating base."

A leading figure in the Iraqi Kurdistan Alliance, Mohammad Hama Amin told al-Araby: "The crossing of death-carrying planes over Iraq to Syria is immoral."

"The Iraqi government needs to make urgent clarifications over the breach of the Constitution and fomenting violence and destruction in a neighbouring country, and granting legitimacy to a gang leader like Bashar al-Assad," Amin added.

"The information speaks of the passage of five planes in a matter of days, and some are talking about more, but the issue is not whether there were one or a thousand, what matters is that the regime in Iraq allowed them to cross," Amin clarified. "How will the world see us now and how can we ask its help in the war on terrorism?"

Political analyst Majid al-Hameed told al-Araby: "The prime minister is very embarrassed of this, but pressure exerted on him from Iran, and Russian arms donations to Iraq, lately represented by Kornet thermal missiles, Mi-35 attack helicopters and shipments of ammunitions for Kalashnikov rifles, have compelled him to be silent."

Over the different stages of the war in Syria, the Iraqi government had supported the Assad regime and provided him it considerable military and financial facilities during the government of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. But the fall of Anbar into the hands of Islamic State group followed by Mosul, cut off the ground connection between the two countries.

Forms of support and contact between Iraq and Syria became limited to air flights only. Iraq allowed Iranian planes loaded with Revolutionary Guard soldiers and arms to transit to Damascus, but this was briefly stopped by the new prime minister, Abadi, after he assumed power in the country at the end of last year, and was resumed 45 days later.

The Associated Press has reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday strongly defended Moscow's military assistance to the Syrian government, saying it's impossible to defeat the Islamic State group without cooperating with the Syrian government.

A prominent figure in the Iraqi Popular Movement, Mohammad Abdullah, told al-Araby: "Political leaders have made enquiries to Abadi about Russian violations of Iraqi airspace and its use to support an illegitimate regime, but no answer was given and Abadi remained silent."