Iraq contemplates acquiring Russian S-400 air defense missile systems

The Iraqi government has just purchased a large order of Russian T-90 tanks but is now eyeballing their S-400 air defense missile systems as well. The Foreign Minister for Iraq, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who made a recent trip to Russia stated, “The issue is being studied in every detail. All necessary decisions aimed at strengthening Iraq will be made after that.”

Member of the Iraqi Parliament’s defense committee Hakim Al-Zamili said, “Iraq has the right to own cutting-edge weapons to defend its territory and air space from air attacks. Terrorism targets our country abundant in places sacred for every Iraqi. There are signs and warnings that extremists might use aircraft for attacks on those shrines, which cause lots of worries and anxiety in the country, as it was after an attack on Samarra’s holy places,” and, “So Iraq intends to possess such a system as S-400 to defend the land, shrines and air space. We are serious about it.”