Publication

This paper examines the extent of US, Russian and Iranian influence in Iraq following Russia's intervention in Syria in September 2015 and the formation of a coordination cell between Russian, Syrian, Iranian, and Iraqi military officials. More specifically, the author examines 1) Russia’s presence in Iraq; 2) Russian and Iranian objectives in forming the coordination cell; 3) the reasons why Iraq has accepted Russia’s presence in the cell and its portrayal of what the cell is for; and 4) the implications of the coordination cell for the US and its policy towards Iraq.