Special to WorldTribune.com

Russia is said to be considering Iraq’s offer to allow it to carry out air strikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in Iraqi territory.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Sept. 30 he may allow Russia to carry out air strikes on the terror group inside Iraq if Moscow offered.

“It is a possibility. If we get the offer, we will consider it,” Abadi said.

On Oct. 1, Russian foreign ministry official Ilya Rogachyov said Moscow would “consider” air strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq if Baghdad asked it to do so.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, said Russia had no plans to expand the air operation to Iraq.

“We were not invited, we were not asked, and we are polite people, as you know. We don’t come if not invited,” Lavrov said during an Oct. 1 news conference at the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Iran has deployed hundreds of troops to Syira in the past two weeks ahead of what observers say will be a major ground offensive against ISIL. Sources told Reuters that the Iranian troops will join with Hizbullah fighters and both will receive air support from Russia.

“The (Russian) air strikes will in the near future be accompanied by ground advances by the Syrian army and its allies,” a source said. “It is possible that the coming land operations will be focused in the Idlib and Hama countryside.”

A second source said the Iranian soldiers would be well-equipped.

“The vanguard of Iranian ground forces began arriving in Syria: soldiers and officers specifically to participate in this battle. They are not advisers … we mean hundreds with equipment and weapons. They will be followed by more.”

  Haider al-Abadi, Russia will ‘consider’ expanding its air offensive to Iraq, Sergei Lavrov, WorldTribune.com