article_snippet: The photographs emerged as The photographs was revealed the US-led coalition would begin offering air support to the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Army allied Iran-supported Shiite militias at the request of Iraq's government.
article_snippet: The unnamed official refused to say whether the air support extended to airstrikes and bombing raids on Islamic State targets in central Iraq.
article_snippet: The U.S. has previously said Iraq's government did not ask Iraq's government to participate in the campaign.
article_snippet: Iraq also called for greater international cooperation to combat the violence, Syrian state TV said.
article_snippet: Iraq's Shiite-led government in the Syrian capital Damascus, together with Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, have been important allies for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
article_snippet: Shiite militias have fought on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's side against the insurgency spearheaded by Sunni Islamists.
article_snippet: Iraq's armed forces are also the main partner on the ground for a U.S.-led coalition bombing Islamic State militants in Iraq but Washington and other Western governments have dismissed the idea of cooperating directly with Syria in the same fight.
article_snippet: Iraq has acted as a go-between for information about the U.S.-led strikes on ISIS in our countries.
article_snippet: Syria's seat has been left vacant since Syria's seat membership was suspended in November 2011 after the government's crackdown on protests. '
article_snippet: In September Iraq's national security adviser briefed Assad himself on efforts to counter Islamic State, in an Arab League meeting in Egypt scheduled for the weekend since the United States launched air strikes on the group in Iraq.
article_snippet: Territory held by Islamic State in Syria includes most of Deir al-Zor province, which borders Iraq.
highlights_snippet: Members of the Iraqi Army were seen standing next to the Shiite troops .
  
highlights_snippet: Aircraft will be offering intelligence to Iraqi  forces trying to re-take the city .
  