Russian air strikes in Aleppo ‘not helpful’

A still image, taken from video footage and released by Russia’s Defence Ministry on August 16, 2016, shows a Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bomber based in Iran, flying after bombs were dropped off, at an unknown location in Syria.

Russian Federation on Wednesday, August 17, dismissed a suggestion from Washington that Moscow is violating a UN Security Council resolution by using an Iranian air base for its bombing raids on Syria.

Russian Federation said its bombers from Iran struck “Islamic State” targets in Deir al-Zour, an IS-controlled city in eastern Syria.

The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday the Russian military notified the US-led coalition against the IS before Russian bombers carried out airstrikes in Syria from Iran.

“There are no reasons to suspect Russian Federation of violating resolution 2231”, Lavrov said during a news conference Wednesday.

“It brings Russian Federation into Iran like we have not seen before”, Vatanka said.

While Syria and Russia have a strong military bond, the relationship between Iran and Russia has been more political than military until now, Dr. Chivvis says, noting that the decision to use Hamadan airbase “will require a closer practical military cooperation between Russia and Iranian forces”.

Russian Federation has also never used the territory of another country in the Middle East for its operations inside Syria, where it has been carrying out an aerial campaign in support of President Bashar Assad’s government for almost a year.

“And so, our concerns remain very vivid,”, US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

“We are discussing this through military, intelligence and foreign ministries”, Xinhua news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

However, he added that American officials were “not there yet” on cooperation against ISIS with Moscow, citing the Russians’ tendency to bomb “moderate” Syrian opposition forces supported by the U.S.

Once they reached Syrian airspace, the Su-34 aircraft were escorted by Su-35 fighters, known as Flanker-Es, flying out of the Syria’s Khmeimim airbase near the port city of Latakia, RT said, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.

He did not comment when asked if Russian Federation had sought overflight permission from the government of Iraq, whose airspace provides quickest access to Syria from Iran.

Larijani added that the Iranian Constitution bans any foreign forces from having a military base in the country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the situation in Syria over the phone on Tuesday.

Both oppose calls for Mr 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.

“As a result of the strikes five large arms depots were destroyed. a militant training camp. three command and control points. and a significant number of militants”, the ministry said in a statement.

“We need full humanitarian access immediately … and we don’t have it”, he said.