Strikes in the Tariq al-Bab and al-Sakhour districts of northeast Aleppo had killed around 20 people, while air raids in a corridor rebels opened this month into opposition-held eastern parts of the city had killed another nine, the observatory said.
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It is virtually unheard in recent history for Iran to allow a foreign power to use one of its bases to stage attacks.
The announcement suggests cooperation at the highest levels between Moscow and Tehran, both key allies of the embattled president.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed separately in comments aired Monday that Russia and the United States are also close to joining forces around Syria’s ravaged second city of Aleppo, where Russian planes and regime forces are battling rebels for control. “We remain in close contact (with Russian officials)”.
The official was not authorized to speak to reporters about the matter so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Col. Chris Garver, spokesman for the US -led coalition in Iraq, said in a briefing Tuesday that Russian forces notified American military officials before launching their airstrikes in accordance with a memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
Garver says the Russian bomber flights did not affect USA coalition air operations. The aim of the Russian airborne military operations is to destroy Daesh as soon as possible. “They did not impact coalition operations in either Iraq or Syria during the time”.
Analysts seem to agree that Russia’s use of the air base is more a political move than a dramatic change in military strategy.
Iranian state media quoted the head of the country’s National Security Council Ali Shamkhani saying Iran and Russian Federation have strategic cooperation in fighting terrorism in Syria and are sharing their facilities in that mission.
“This factor and the deployment of Russian bombers in Hamadan testify to the success of the Iranian-Russian strategic partnership in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Syria”.
With the signing of a nuclear deal past year between Iran and six world powers, the sale went forward, and ties between Russian Federation and Iran have improved markedly.
Russian Federation on Tuesday announced for the first time it had flown bombing raids against jihadist groups in Syria from an airbase in Iran after deploying its warplanes to the country.
The Nusra Front is al-Qaida’s branch in Syria.
Aleppo has been under siege by militant groups, including as Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, classified as terrorist organization, Sputnik reports.
U.S. President Barack Obama is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to coordinate airstrikes with Russian Federation in Syria.
The airstrikes were carried out by long-range Tupolev-22M3 bombers from Hamadan air base, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s website.
The nearest air base to Hamedan is Shahid Nojeh Air Base, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of the city.
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“Basing out of Iran saves Russians hassle and fuel”, Andrew Tabler, the Martin J. Gross fellow in the Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute, told Business Insider on Tuesday. “The Iranians were asking for some arms deliveries and a good price, and we [the Russians] had our own demands, likely including the request to use the Iranian air base”.
