Russia uses Iranian air base to conduct strikes in Syria

This video grab image, taken from footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry's official website, reportedly shows a Russian bomber Tupolev Tu-22M3 conducting an airstrike. (Str/AFP/Getty Images)

By Erin Cunningham and Paul Schemm August 16 at 8:54 AM 

ISTANBUL — Russian bombers flying from an Iranian air base struck rebel targets across Syria on Tuesday, Russian and Iranian officials said, dramatically underscoring the two countries’ growing military ties and highlighting Russia's ambitions for greater influence in a turbulent Middle East.

The long-range bombers took off from Hamadan in western Iran and launched raids in Syria's Aleppo, Deir al-Zour and Idlib provinces, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

Both countries are staunch allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but the sorties marked the first time that Russia has launched strikes from Iranian territory. Iran has long banned foreign troops from operating on its soil.

The head of Iran's National Security Council said Tuesday that the two nations "enjoy strategic cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Syria, and share their facilities and capacities to this end," according to a statement carried by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Tu-22 bombers and Su-34 fighter bombers struck targets linked to the Islamic State and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, a group that formally split from al-Qaeda last month and changed its name from Jabhat al-Nusra.

[Syrian extremist group splits from al-Qaeda and changes its name]

The strike destroyed five major ammunition depots, training camps and three command posts, according to the Defense Ministry statement.

While Russia has long supported the Syrian government with airstrikes conducted from Syrian air bases, the Tu-22 requires longer runways and previously flew from bases in southern Russia. Using an Iranian airfield cut the bombers’ travel distance from 1,250 miles to around 400 miles, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.

Both Russia and Iran have backed the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but never before have Russian forces been based in Iran.

The move comes against a backdrop of Russia’s growing influence in the region with its aggressive support of Syria in its civil war, starting last year.

In January 2015, Russia and Iran signed a military cooperation deal focused on training and fighting terrorism.

In May, Russia made the long-delayed delivery of the advanced S-300 air-defense missile system, which had been ordered by Iran in 2007 amid controversy over Iran’s nuclear program.

With the signing of a nuclear deal last year between Iran and six world powers, the sale went forward, and ties between Russia and Iran have improved markedly.

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top Middle East envoy arrived in Tehran to discuss bilateral relations. Russia has also requested the use of Iranian airspace to fire cruise missiles at rebel targets in Syria.

Source : Washington Post