The United States on Wednesday expressed concerns over Russia’s use of Iran’s air base to conduct military strikes in Syria, saying that such move is “not helpful” to the situation in the war-torn country.
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On Wednesday, in a move that could have aftershocks felt across the Middle East, Iran confirmed that Russian Federation is using its territory to launch airstrikes in Syria even as a second wave of Moscow’s bombers flew out of the Islamic republic to hit targets in the war-ravaged country.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said that on Wednesday SU-34 fighter bombers flying from Iran’s Hamadan air base had struck Islamic State targets in Syria’s Deir al-Zor province, destroying two command posts and killing more than 150 militants.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday refuted allegations that Tehran had permitted Russian Federation to use an airbase in its western Hamedan region to strike positions in Syria, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
On Tuesday, Russian planes for the first time used the Iranian airdrome Hamadan to bomb terrorists in Syria. Prior to Iranian Hamedan Airbase, Russian air forces used Syrian Khmeimim Airbase.
Earlier, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, denied that Russian warplanes were using Iranian territory, as the United States claimed such operations could violate a UN resolution.
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.
The minister also called on the US not to “nitpick about what is happening in terms of the remaining restrictions on trade and ties with Iran”.
It is reportedly the first time Russian Federation has struck targets inside Syria from a third country since it began a campaign to prop up Syria’s president a year ago.
Iran and Russian Federation are the two staunchest backers of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, with Tehran commanding thousands of troops fighting for him on the ground while Russian Federation provides airpower.
“There are no grounds to suspect Russian Federation of breaching the resolution”, Lavrov said at a news conference in Moscow.
Chris Harmer, senior naval analyst for the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, said the basing of Russian planes in Iran represents a doubling down of support for the Syrian president by Tehran and Moscow.
Both oppose calls for Assad to step down as a way of resolving the conflict that has killed more than 290,000 people since it erupted in March 2011.
“The Syrian government and Russian Federation should immediately stop attacking civilian areas with incendiary weapons”, said Steve Goose, HRW’s arms director.
Konashenkov also pointed out that the USA was using a Turkish air base to support its own airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.
“In the case we’re discussing there has been no supply, sale, or transfer of fighter jets to Iran”, Lavrov said.
“There are no reasons to suspect Russian Federation of violating resolution 2231”, Lavrov said during a news conference Wednesday.
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Russian officials on Wednesday rejected U.S. criticisms of its use of the base.
