MOSCOW, Oct 9: Russia on Tuesday unveiled $4.2 billion in arms deals with Iraq that make it the strife-torn nation’s largest weapons supplier after the United States and firm up its slipping foothold in the Middle East.

The groundbreaking shipments were disclosed ahead of talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Vladimir Putin that also offered Russia a rare chance to win key regional backing for its isolated position on Syria.

A joint statement issued after Maliki’s negotiations on Tuesday with his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev said the contracts were agreed during delegation visits this year and totalled “more than $4.2 billion”.

Russian media said the deliveries — expected to have been signed in a single package this week — covered 30 Mi-28 attack helicopters and 42 Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems.

Further discussions were also said to be underway for Iraq’s eventual acquisition of a large batch of MiG-29 fighters and helicopters along with heavy weaponry.—AFP