Iraq said in a statement on Saturday that its military officials were engaged in intelligence and security cooperation in Baghdad with Iran, Russia, and Syria to counter the threat from the ISIL terrorists, Reuters reported.
The statement added that the cooperation had come "with increased Russian concern about the presence of thousands of terrorists from Russia undertaking criminal acts with Daesh.”
Iraq has been grappling with armed rebellion since the summer of 2014 with ISIL Takfiri terrorists now controlling some areas of the country's north and west. Iraqi troops along with volunteer fighters managed to seize back Tikrit from the Takfiri group back in March 2015.
Since the emergence of the ISIL terrorists, Baghdad has seen near-daily attacks, with roadside bombs, suicide blasts and assassinations targeting Iraqi forces and government officials, with significant casualties among the civilian population.
The violence has killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands of Iraqis.