U.S. general wins assurance Iraq will not seek Russia air strikes

Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford testifies during the Senate Armed Services committee nomination hearing to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 9, 2015. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States won assurances from Iraq on Tuesday that it would not seek Russian air strikes against Islamic State, America's top general said, adding he warned Baghdad that a Russian air role would impede the U.S.-led campaign.

Russia's new military intervention in Iraq's neighbor Syria has seen the former Cold War foes carrying out rival campaigns of air strikes there and has triggered questions about whether Russia might extend its campaign to Iraq.