Moscow already stands accused of indiscriminate bombing that has killed many civilians in Syria and of using incendiary weapons in civilian areas – a claim that was repeated by Human Rights Watch on Tuesday.
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On Tuesday, Russian long-range bombers took off from Hamedan air base in Iran to launch strikes against terrorist targets in Syria.
Mark Toner, a spokesman for the US Department of State, earlier told reporters that Washington is exploring whether Russia’s use of an Iranian air base to hit extremists in Syria is a violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
Russian Federation had talked about the possibility of flying planes out of Iran since late past year, but its decision to do so on Tuesday came as a surprise, USA officials said.
On Tuesday Russian military for the first time used an aerodrome in Iran to deliver airstrikes at militants in Syria. While Moscow and Tehran have combined to be the two biggest backers of the embattled Mr. Assad, there were no plans for a permanent base, the Iranian lawmaker said.
Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies called the housing of Russian bombers in Iran as representative of “a major strategic shift in the Middle East” that is likely to frustrate United States efforts to contain Iran’s influence in the region.
The Iranian base, far closer to Syria than bases in Russia, allowed the aircraft to carry less fuel and more munitions as they struck rebel forces and positions in Aleppo, Dair Alzour and Idlib provinces, Russian and Iranian officials said.
The comments came as Iranian officials sought to quell any concern Russia’s use of the base violates the country’s constitution, which prohibits foreign militaries from having bases in Iran.
The Iranian deployment will boost Russia’s image as a central player in the Middle East and allow the Russian Air Force to cut flight times and increase bombing payloads.
Russia’s decision to launch raids from Iran puts it firmly in the camp of Shiite forces in the Mideast, Rubin said, something Moscow may not realize carries long-term consequences.
On Aug. 16, Russian Federation said its Tu-22M3 and Su-34 bombers are deployed in Iran and from there the aircraft are hitting the “Islamic State” (IS) terrorist group in Syria.
“Is there any UN Charter provision, UN Security Council resolution or a bilateral treaty between the United States of America and Syria authorizing bombing of the Syrian territory by attack UAVs of the US Air Force?”
The new level of military coordination between Moscow and Tehran is likely to complicate nascent plans for a Russian-American alliance against Isil and other groups that both countries consider terrorists.
In this frame grab provided by the Russian Defense Ministry press service, a Russian long-range Tu-22M3 bomber carries out an air strike over Aleppo region of Syria on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday there were no grounds to suggest Russia had violated the resolution, saying it was not supplying Iran with aircraft. “It’s not just Russian planes touching down in Iran”.
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Russian Federation has used the Iranian base to bomb Syrian militants for the first time.
