These fighter jets join operations in Syria with the approval of Iran.”During a news briefing Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington was still assessing whether Russian Federation violated UN Security Council resolution 2231 by using the Iranian airbase and he added that the U.S. has not yet made a determination.The UNSC 2231 resolution prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran unless the council approves.Toner reiterated that Russia’s ongoing use of the airbase to strike targets in Syria “doesn’t help” with placing a cessation of hostilities agreement back on track in Syria – especially in and around Aleppo, where civilians are targeted”.
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Russian Federation backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while the United States believes the Syrian leader must step down and is supporting rebel groups that are fighting to unseat him. The U.S., which wants Mr. Assad out, has expressed concerns about Moscow and Tehran’s stepped-up military coordination.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) A prominent Iranian lawmaker confirmed Wednesday that Russian Federation is using an Iranian air base for airstrikes in Syria, as Moscow said another wave of airstrikes launched from the Islamic Republic struck the east of the war-ravaged country.
The ministry said that the attack hit two Islamic State command points and large training camps, “eliminating more than 150 militants”.
According to the U.S., Russian Federation violates the Resolution of UNSG 2231, which stipulates prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran unless the council approves.
The deployment in Iran comes a day after Russia’s defense minister said Washington and Moscow were near agreement on the proposed military partnership. “In the case which is being discussed now neither supply nor transfer or sale of military aircraft to Iran has taken place”.
“It’s against our rules to provide advice to the leadership of the U.S. State Department”. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. Thus, such a behavior of Russian warplanes could qualify as a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
“We have good cooperation with Russian Federation and we say it loud and clear”, he added.
“There is no reason whatsoever to suspect Russia’s violation of Resolution 2231 because there has been no supply, sale or transfer of military aircraft to Iran from Russian Federation”.
“So we’re looking at it and we’re trying to make a sober assessment of whether this constitutes, in our view, a violation”, Toner added.
Mr. Toner added that while the U.S.is concerned about the use of Iran to stage attacks, Russian Federation has been carrying out similar strikes for months from inside Syria and from Russian Federation.
“So that element of it is not new”, he said.
The United States said it was still assessing the extent of Russian-Iranian cooperation but described the new development as “unfortunate”.
On Wednesday, presumed Russian or Syrian government airstrikes on the rebel-held city of Idlib in the northwest killed 17 people and wounded at least 30 others, the Civil Defense branch for the province reported. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Iran allowed refugees into the country and backed mujahedeen rebel fighters as did the U.S.
The Russian planes flew over Iraq, apparently without the permission of Iraq’s government, a USA official said.
“I really think this is meant to be strategic messaging to the West that Iran and Russian Federation are now completely committed to the survival of the Assad regime”, he said.
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The Russian foreign minister is rejecting allegations that Russia’s use of Iranian military bases for airstrikes in Syria violates any United Nations sanctions on Iran.
