A Sukhoi Su-24 jet fighter (Reuters / Shamil Zhumatov)
First Batch Of Russian Jets Arrives In Iraq -- RT
The first ten Russian Sukhoi (Su-24) fighter jets arrived in Iraq on Saturday, the country’s Defense Ministry said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is hoping the jets will make a key difference in the fight against ISIS.
“The fighter jets landed today in the morning on different military airfields,” MP Abbas al-Bayati told Iraqi media.
The official spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, Mohammed al-Askari, also confirmed the information, Al Iraqiya TV channel reported.
The fighter jets will be stationed at an airbase located in the southern part of the country, PressTV reported, citing military sources.
Read more ....
More News On The First Batch Of Russian Jets Arriving In Baghdad
Iraq crisis: Russian fighter jets arrive as Iraq military battles ISIS -- CNN
Iraq Says Russian Experts Have Arrived to Help Prepare Jets for Fighting -- New York Times
Iraq crisis: Russian fighter jets arrive to hold back Isis approach -- The Independent
Iraq receives Russian fighter jets -- AFP
Iraq receives Russian fighter jets to fight rebels -- BBC
First batch of 5 Russian jet fighters arrive in Iraq -- Xinhua
Russian jets arrive in Iraq as government pushes back -- Channel 4 News
Iraq takes delivery of Russian fighter jets -- Al Jazeera
Russia sends Sukhoi fighter jets to help Iraq counter extremists’ offensive -- Middle East Online
My Comment: I doubt that this delivery of a few jet fighters will make a difference in Iraq's civil war, but the optics on how this delivery is being played in the Middle East is very revealing. The U.S. is seen as being slow and hesitant in supporting their Iraqi allies (while giving conditions on what their support will be) .... and Russia is seen as rushing in and giving aid unconditionally. The ramifications of this perception .... whether it is right or wrong .... is going to be felt for a very long time.
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