Iraq says Russia, Iran, Syria cooperating on security issues in Baghdad

Iraq has said its military officials are engaged in intelligence and security cooperation in Baghdad with Russia, Iran and Syria to counter the threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant group, a pact that could raise concerns in Washington.

A statement from the Iraqi military's joint operations command on Sept. 26 said the cooperation had come "with increased Russian concern about the presence of thousands of terrorists from Russia undertaking criminal acts with Daesh (ISIL)." 

The move could give Moscow more sway in the Middle East. It has stepped up its military involvement in Syria in recent weeks while pressing for Damascus to be included in international efforts to fight ISIL, a demand Washington rejects. 

Russia's engagement in Iraq could mean increased competition for Washington from a Cold War rival as long-time enemy Iran increases its influence through Shi'ite militia allies just four years after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. 

Russian news agency Interfax quoted a military diplomatic source in Moscow as saying the Baghdad coordination centre would be led on a rotating basis by officers of the four countries, starting with Iraq. 

The source added a committee might be created in Baghdad to plan military operations and control armed forces units in the fight against ISIL. 

The Russian defence ministry declined to comment on the reports. 

By raising the stakes in Syria's four-year-old civil war, Moscow has prompted Washington to expand diplomatic channels with it. 

Western officials have said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wants to launch a new effort at the U.N. General Assembly this week to try to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict.