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Baghdad:
Iraq has started bombing Islamic State targets with help from a new intelligence centre that has staff from Russia, Iran and Syria, the head of parliament's defence and security committee said today.
The centre, which includes six staff from each country, has been operational for approximately one week, Hakim al Zamili, a leading Shi'ite politician, told Reuters.
Iraq's air force bombed a convoy this week that was thought to be carrying Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, based on information from the centre, said Zamili. Security officials later said Baghdadi had not been in the convoy.
"We can get a lot of use from Russian intelligence, even if they don't do air strikes," Zamili said.
Two weeks ago Russia started bombing anti-government rebels in neighbouring Syria, including Islamic State, to support its ally, President Bashar al-Assad.
Two Russian one-star generals are stationed at the intelligence centre in Baghdad, according to an Iraqi official who asked not to be named.
The centre, which includes six staff from each country, has been operational for approximately one week, Hakim al Zamili, a leading Shi'ite politician, told Reuters.
Iraq's air force bombed a convoy this week that was thought to be carrying Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, based on information from the centre, said Zamili. Security officials later said Baghdadi had not been in the convoy.
"We can get a lot of use from Russian intelligence, even if they don't do air strikes," Zamili said.
Two weeks ago Russia started bombing anti-government rebels in neighbouring Syria, including Islamic State, to support its ally, President Bashar al-Assad.
Two Russian one-star generals are stationed at the intelligence centre in Baghdad, according to an Iraqi official who asked not to be named.
© Thomson Reuters 2015
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