In Iraq airstrikes may create new allies

Syrian aircraft reportedly carried out airstrikes June 24 against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in the Iraqi town of Qaim, located at the Syrian border in Anbar province. This is not the first time that the Syrian air force has acted against such targets along the border. Recently, these airstrikes have occurred in the militant-controlled areas of western Iraq, though these strikes will not dramatically change the situation on the ground. However, the fact that three bitter adversaries—the United States, Iran and Syria—are defending the Iraqi government and responding to the militant threat against it shows that even historical rivals can cooperate, if only temporarily.

Any airstrike in Iraqi territory is noteworthy. The US-led invasion permanently disabled most of Iraq’s air force. Baghdad’s efforts to rebuild it have proceeded slowly, and it still awaits the delivery of some procurement items, including US F-16s. The air force currently operates only a handful of fixed-wing Cessna Caravans that can attack ground targets with hellfire missiles. These are easily distinguishable from military-grade jet fighters. Baghdad also has a few dedicated attack and light attack reconnaissance helicopters used to supplement ground attack capabilities. It used these assets to blunt the initial militant advance south down the Tigris River valley toward Baghdad, even as Iraqi army resistance disappeared.