It said its Iranian-based bombers had been escorted by fighter jets based at Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Syria’s Latakia Province. There was no way to confirm these figures, though as with the United States air war against ISIS, the figures tend to be inflated.
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When an Anadolu Agency reporter asked Toner during the briefing what the USA position was over the kidnapped head of the Syrian Kurdish National Council (KNC), Ibrahim Biro, the spokesman said he was aware of the reports but had no details on it. Biro was kidnapped last week by the terrorist PKK’s Syrian affiliate Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD) forces and was forced to leave Syria.
Larijani added that the Iranian Constitution bans any foreign forces from having a military base in the country.
The move allows Russian Federation considerable savings in fuel, and increased utility, as the planes coming out of Hamaden were too large to operate out of Russia’s smaller airfields inside Syria, and would’ve had to be deployed from inside Russian Federation previously, a much further trip.
However, Russia’s involvement in Syria has its limits.
Head of the Center for Strategic Studies affiliated to the Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati echoed Shamkhani Wednesday, saying that “Iran and Russian Federation enhanced level of cooperation in line with global campaign against terrorism”, according to IRNA.
Larijani’s comments seemed to be more aimed at addressing concerns within his own country over the Russian air strikes.
The Head of Parliament’s National Security Committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said operations had been authorised by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and are based on a deal between Iran, Russia, Syria and Iraq.
The UK based Syrian Observatory for Human rights says heavy air strikes on Tuesday hit many targets in an around Aleppo killing dozens.
The resolution prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran unless approved in advance by the UN Security Council, something he said hadn’t occurred.
The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, said on August 17 that Russian Federation does not have a permanent military base in Iran, but stressed that Iran has “good cooperation with Russian Federation and we say that loud and clear”.
In Washington, a spokesman for the State Department said it is “still assessing” whether Russia’s use of Iranian bases violates the UN Security Council resolution, which was passed past year.
Moscow’s deepening involvement comes as the Syrian regime and Iran-backed ground forces supported by Russian Federation airstrikes are battling to retake the city Aleppo from rebels, including jihadists. At the meeting, officials said, the sides will try to secure a cease-fire between Syria’s government and rebels and a new U.S.
Cordesman assessed that the USA would certainly consider steps like raising the issue with the United Nations in an attempt to push back against the emerging Iran-Russian collaboration.
As part of the deal, USA officials said Russian Federation would have to halt offensives by Assad’s government, something it has failed to do over months of diplomatic efforts.
“These warplanes with the consent of Iran are being used by the Russian air force to participate in an anti-terrorism operation in Syria at the request of the legal Syrian authorities”, he said.
Russian Federation also gave advance notice to the U.S. -led coalition battling ISIL in Syria and Iraq, complying with the terms of a safety agreement meant to avoid an accidental clash in the skies, said U.S. Army Col. Christopher Garver, a Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S. -led coalition.
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There was heavy fighting around the Ramussa area and a nearby military academy on Wednesday, the Britain-based monitor said.
