The Flow Of Arms To Syria Through Iraq Continues

An Iranian cargo plane during an inspection at Baghdad’s airport in October. Iraq has been reluctant to do inspections. Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority, via Reuters

Flow Of Arms To Syria Through Iraq Persists, to U.S. Dismay -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The American effort to stem the flow of Iranian arms to Syria has faltered because of Iraq’s reluctance to inspect aircraft carrying the weapons through its airspace, American officials say.

The shipments have persisted at a critical time for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who has come under increasing military pressure from rebel fighters. The air corridor over Iraq has emerged as a main supply route for weapons, including rockets, antitank missiles, rocket-propelled grenade and mortars.

Iran has an enormous stake in Syria, which is its staunchest Arab ally and has also provided a channel for Iran’s support to the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah.

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My Comment: For Iraq the math is simple .... Iran is next door, and the U.S. is thousands of miles away.