Russian warplanes use Iran base to bomb ISIL in Syria

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press

Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA TODAY 8:30 a.m. EDT August 16, 2016

Russian warplanes took off from a base in Iran to launch airstrikes on the Islamic State group in Syria — the first time they have used facilities outside Russia or Syria for air operations against the extremist group.

The planes, which took off from the Hamadan air base in Iran, destroyed five armament depots, three command posts and militant training camps in Aleppo, Deir el-Zor and Idlib, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday, according to the TASS news agency.

The planes returned to the base after the bombings, it said. Previously, Russian warplanes took off from bases within Syria and Russia to launch strikes in the war-torn country.

Russia and Iran have expanded their cooperation in recent months after most international sanctions against Iran were lifted following the deal to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/16/russian-warplanes-bomb-syria-iran-base/88817976/

[cstanleytech]

1. So from Iran? I assume via Turkey airspace then unless Iraq granted them permission to use its

airspace instead unless of course Russia is just violating one of their airspaces without permission.

[Xithras]

3. Iraq gave Russia permission to use their airspace last year.

The U.S. government wasn't particularly happy about their choice and asked Iraq to close the airspace to the Russians, but Iraq refused the request. Russia isn't permitted to strike any targets within Iraq itself (the U.S. would have pulled out otherwise), but they can do overflights to Syrian airspace. Iraq even closes its own northern airspace to civilian traffic on occasion when the Russians are carrying out major campaigns, in order to give the Russian jets priority and eliminate any chance of conflict.

[Hortensis]

2. Interesting development. Last I read Iran was upset

because Russia was not informing them about military actions, etc. Apparently they've come to some agreement about doing a better job of going after ISIL? Both trust each other about 0% at best, of course, and have very different goals in Syria.

[Purveyor]

4. Russia and Iran have all but officially proclaimed a 'security pact' between

the two countries.

Expect that pact to be officially proclaimed if the 'west' decides to start poking at Iran in the coming years.