Russia expands arc of influence in Middle East with presence in Iraq
The Russian airforce has been granted use of the Iraqi Al Taqaddum air base, just 74 km south-west of Baghdad. This gives Russia two key airbases to operate from across the Middle East, and an arc of influence from Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, most of the eastern seaboard of the Mediterranean, and southwards down to the Gulf. Last month Russia sent two state-of-the-art airborne cyber-surveillance and electronic warfare systems: Ilyushin-20 (IL-20 Coot) super-surveillance planes to the Latakia-base in Syria. These systems, plus the additional use of the Al Taqaddum base, mean the key building blocks for Russia to dominate much of the Middle East's airspace (should it so wish) are in place. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has said it will start attacking Iraqi-based ISIS forces.

ISIL militants aren't going to find a safe haven from Russian airstrikes in Iraq after the country's parliament gave Russia the green light to conduct airstrikes against ISIL targets in Iraq.

"Iraq agreed with Russia, which leads the joint data center, to hit the ISIL militants heading from Syria into Iraq," al-Zameli said, highlighting the fact that the move would also cut off ISIL supply routes from Iraq into Syria, as cited by Fars.

The approval comes amid security coordination between the governments of Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria — all of which seek to destroy ISIL. The four nations launched the Baghdad Information Center to coordinate their military actions against the terrorists both in Syria and Iraq.