Video has been released of Russian bombers dropping bombs on ISIS fighters and weapon caches in Syria. This monumental event marks the first time Russia has used an Iranian airbase in the Syria camping. An unspecified number of long-range bombers, including Su-34 and Tu-22M3 warplanes, were deployed from the Western Iranian city of Hamadan.
Allowing the Russian warplanes to depart from Hamadan reportedly shortens the flight time to targets in Syria by 60 percent. Ali Shamkhani, the chief of Iran’s supreme national security council, confirmed that Iran and Russia are collaborating to carry out the bombings. He told the Irna news agency:
“Tehran and Moscow have strategic cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Syria and we have the capacity and the capabilities for this collaboration,”
Russian officials have also confirmed the countries are working together. Russia Today, a state-run news agency, reported:
“The long-range bombers with full bomb payload took off from Hamadan airfield to attack Islamic State and al-Nusra Front facilities in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib provinces,”
Russia today also released the following video, which is reportedly live footage of the long-range bombers carrying out the attack.
The Russian bombers destroyed three ISIS command points and training camps. Weapons and ammunitions depots used to supply jihadis in the Aleppo region of Syria were destroyed.
Iran has banned foreign militarizes from building or maintaining bases on Iranian soil. Western officials fear that this collaboration could be a sign of a budding alliance between the two nations that could lead to Russia increasing its military presence in the region.
[revad2]
