US And Iranian Drones Flying Over Iraq
Updated: 5:16am UK, Saturday 28 June 2014
By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent, Washington
US officials have confirmed that armed drones are now flying in the skies above Baghdad. Previously, US drones operating there were thought to be unarmed.
All unmanned aerial missions will remain tasked with surveillance but the armed drones could be called on to protect the hundreds of US troops who've been sent to act as military advisers.
President Obama has for now ruled out offensive military action in Iraq, but this will give him the ability to respond quickly with force should US assets become threatened.
It also means that US and Iranian drones are almost certainly for the first time flying in the same theatre of war, on the same side.
US press reports claim Iran is also operating drones from an airfield in Baghdad.
American and Iranian objectives in Iran overlap.
Both countries are determined to reverse the fortunes of ISIS - for different reasons.
Iran is concerned about the threat to its ally, the Shiite-dominated government of Iraq, fellow Shia Iraqis, and Shia holy places.
The US is concerned by the success of an Islamist movement so extreme it's been condemned by al Qaeda.
American officials have been at pains to rule out coordinating military activity in Iraq with Iran.
But they have said they are willing to explore a dialogue to explore mutual interests in the country.
Iranian commanders are reported to be operating in Baghdad. Qassem al Suleimani, commander of the elite Iranian Quds Brigade, is said to be among them.
He is thought to have helped organise Iranian support for Iraqi militia attacks on both US and British troops over the last decade, not least with the use of roadside bombs.
He is now thought to be advising the Iraqi military on defending Baghdad and taking on ISIS after its blitzkrieg advance through the west of the country.
At the same time and in the same city, as many as 300 US military advisers are working with other elements of the Iraqi forces with the same purpose.
The US government has said it is concerned the Iranians' involvement could increase the risk of sectarian conflict in Iraq.
Iran is interested in protecting Shia Iraqis in what is spiralling towards civil war.
For its part, Iran has voiced concerns America is trying to stage-manage events in Iraq with only its interests in mind and orchestrate the removal of the Shia prime minister Nouri al Maliki.
But both countries are prepared to overcome such friction in the interest of defeating a common enemy and maintaining influence in Iraq.
The Iranians are reportedly making a bigger investment to that end, operating a round-the-clock air bridge into Baghdad funnelling tons of materiel into Iraq.
America may look on with alarm at the burgeoning Iranian presence in Iraq and what Teheran may expect in return.
But for now the rise of ISIS remains a bigger worry and Washington has little choice but to work alongside its enemies to vanquish a bigger foe.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
US Armed Drones Take To The Skies Over Iraq
Dengan url
http://malurasanya.blogspot.com/2014/06/us-armed-drones-take-to-skies-over-iraq.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
US Armed Drones Take To The Skies Over Iraq
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
US Armed Drones Take To The Skies Over Iraq
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar