Russia, Iran, Syria cooperating in Iraq

Iraq said on Saturday that its military officials were engaged in intelligence and security cooperation in Baghdad with Russia, Iran and Syria to counter threats from Islamic State extremists, a pact that could raise concerns in Washington.

A statement from the Iraqi military's joint operations command said the cooperation had come because of "increased Russian concern about the presence of thousands of terrorists from Russia undertaking criminal acts with Daesh" - an alternate name for IS.

The move could give Moscow more sway in the Middle East. It has stepped up its military involvement in Syria in recent weeks while pressing for Damascus to be included in international efforts to fight Islamic State, a demand the United States rejects, Reuters said.

Moscow's involvement in Iraq could mean increased competition for Washington from a Cold War adversary as Iran increases its influence through Shiite militia allies just four years after the withdrawal of US troops.

Western officials have said US Secretary of State John Kerry wants to launch a new effort at the UN General Assembly this week to try to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Diplomacy has taken on new urgency in light of Russia's military buildup in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a refugee crisis that has spilled into Europe.

Critics have urged US President Barack Obama to be more decisive in the Middle East, particularly toward the Syrian conflict, and said lack of a clear US policy has given Islamic State opportunities to expand.

The Russian news agency Interfax quoted a military diplomatic source in Moscow as saying the Baghdad coordination center would be led on a rotating basis by officers of the four countries, starting with Iraq.

The source added that a committee might be created in Baghdad to plan military operations and control armed forces units in the fight against Islamic State.

A Russian Foreign Ministry official told Interfax on Friday that Moscow could "theoretically" join the US-led coalition against IS if Damascus were included in international efforts to combat the group and any international military operation in Syria had a United Nations mandate.