Fox News: Russia, Syria and Iran set up a military center in Baghdad

Russian, Syrian and Iranian militaries have set up a coordination center in Baghdad to work with Iran-backed Shiite militants fighting the Islamic State extremist group. This is reported by the American television station Fox News.

Western intelligence sources claim that low-level Russian generals are represented in the coordination center. US officials say it is not yet clear whether the Iraqi government is involved. Describing the arrival of Russian troops in Baghdad, one senior US official said: "They're showing up everywhere."

Moscow is increasing its military presence in Syria, which will be the topic of discussion at a meeting between the presidents of the United States and Russia Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin in New York on Monday, on the sidelines of the session of the UN General Assembly.

The Obama administration has expressed concern that Russia's participation, at least in Syria, may have a destabilizing effect. Moscow, however, continues to maintain contact with the governments of Syria and Iraq. In May, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi traveled to Moscow on an official visit to discuss potential supplies of Russian weapons and joint intelligence capabilities.

Earlier, the official representative of the United States told Fox News that over the weekend, several military aircraft were imperceptibly transferred to Syria.