The Russian armed forces have obtained information that the United States and its allies have already decided to launch military action in Iraq from mid-February, according to a normally reliable news source in the former communist state.
The news agency Interfax's specialist military news wire AVN, today quotes an unnamed high-ranking source in the Russian general staff, saying US-led operations would be launched once an attacking force had been assembled in the Gulf.
The source did not indicate by what means the Russian military had obtained such information.
"According to the information we have, the operation is planned for the second half of February. The decision to launch it has been taken but not yet been made public," the source told the agency, which has generally authoritative contacts in the Russian military and political establishment.
The source said the US and its allies had amassed about 100,000 soldiers and officers in the region but were awaiting for a strength of 150,000 before launching an attack.
"The military operation against Iraq will be conducted by a combination of means - strikes will be from the air, land and sea. The war will be short, lasting about one month," the source said.