Iraq's PM says intelligence sharing with Russia, Syria, Iran needed for war on Islamic State

BAGHDAD – Iraq's prime minister says Baghdad needs to share intelligence with other countries, including Russia, Syria and Iran, in order to defeat the Islamic State group.

In a televised speech aired Monday before his departure to attend the U.N. General Assembly, Haider al-Abadi says Iraq welcomed Russia's "recent interest" in battling the IS group, and responded by establishing an intelligence cell that also includes Iran and Syria.

Iraq's decision to strengthen ties with Syrian President Bashar Assad and his two main allies complicates U.S. efforts to combat the IS group without strengthening regional foes who are also battling the extremists.

Al-Abadi says he will continue to work closely with the U.S.-led coalition that has been bombing the IS group in Syria and Iraq, saying Iraq needs "all the world's intelligence efforts."