Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed today’s strikes had destroyed two ISIS “command posts” and killed over 150 ISIS fighters.
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Washington called the move “unfortunate” and said on Tuesday it was looking into whether Russia’s move had violated U.N. Security Council resolution 2231, which prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov escalated the war of words, denying that operating from Iran violated the resolution.
Lavrov told journalists: “There are no reasons to suspect Russian Federation of violating Resolution 2231”. It also prevents any supply, sale or transfer of combat planes to Iran unless approved by the UNSC in advance.
Russia’s military also responded forcefully to USA criticism, saying that the State Department had misinterpreted the resolution. “This airfield in Iran is only 900km away”, Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement issued Wednesday in response to the State Department’s comments. “In the case which is being discussed now neither supply nor transfer or sale of military aircraft to Iran has taken place”.
“The fact that we cooperate with Russian Federation as an ally on regional issues like Syria doesn’t mean that we have given a base to Russian Federation militarywise”, the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mr. Larijani as saying.
“If the US Department of State is to be believed, Russian Federation violates the UN Security Council’s resolution and the whole logic of US foreign policy by virtue of its existence”, Satanovsky said.
“It has gradations, if you will, on what you can or cannot do with regard to providing or giving Iran offensive capabilities”, he said.
He added that the US-led coalition’s bombing raids on Syria from Turkey’s Incirlik air base are not permitted by the United Nations charter.
For the second day, Russian warplanes used an airbase in Iran to hit targets in Syria Wednesday in another sign of growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran to counter US interests in the region.
“This development is really stunning”, Satanovsky said.
“It’s not helpful because … it continues to complicate what is already a very risky situation”, Toner said. On Wednesday, August 17 Sukhoi-34 bombers again used the airdrome in Iran to bomb IS positions in Deir ez-Zor province. For more on the humanitarian and medical crisis in Syria, we speak with Dr. Zaher Sahloul, founder of the American Relief Coalition for Syria and senior adviser and former president of the Syrian American Medical Society.
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.
“Outside assistance to the rebels has created more of a stalemate than the Russians wanted”, he said.
Both countries back Assad.
“The Syrian government and Russian Federation should immediately stop attacking civilian areas with incendiary weapons”, said Steve Goose, HRW’s arms director.
Flying missions out of Iran wouldn’t appear to provide an advantage, though Russian officials said it enables heavier loads and lower costs.
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Ali Larijani, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, highlighted in comments reported by state-run IRNA news agency that Russian Federation had no permanent base in the country. But the main advantage, he said, was symbolic. USA officials said no agreement was close.
