Iraq May Request Russian Airstrikes on Islamic State Soon: Official

BAGHDAD: Iraq may request Russian airstrikes against Islamic State on its soil soon and wants Moscow to have a bigger role than the United States in the war against the group, the head of parliament's defence and security committee told Reuters today.

"We might be forced to ask Russia to launch air strikes in Iraq soon. I think the upcoming few days or weeks Iraq will be forced to ask Russia to launch air strikes and that depends on their success in Syria," said Hakim al-Zamili.