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Russia may consider military assistance in fighting IS if Iraq requests it - minister

"In case we receive a request, we shall consider it accordingly", said Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov
Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov ITAR-TASS/Sergei Karpov
Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov
© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Karpov

BEIJING, October 17. /TASS/. Russia has not received from Iraq a request for military assistance in fighting the outlawed Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, and is ready to consider it, Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters after the 6th Xiangshan Security Forum in Beijing.

"What I can say now is that as of today we do not have a request from Iraq like the one we have from [Syria’s President] Bashar Assad," he said. "In case we receive a request, we shall consider it accordingly."

"As there are very many insinuations about Syria, I would like to stress we have a written request from Bashar Assad for a military and military-technical assistance in fighting IS," he said. "We stress we are acting on a legal base and in compliance with the international law.".