Russian Bombers Use Iranian Base to Attack Syrian Militants
- Strikes hit areas held by Islamic State and moderate forces
- U.S. probing if strikes violate Security Council resolution
Su-34 aircraft.
Photographer: Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Russia acknowledged that its warplanes used an air base in Iran to bomb militants in Syria, drawing U.S. complaints that the move “was not helpful” in efforts to enact a cease-fire in the country’s 5 1/2-year civil war.
Russian Tu-22M3 and Su-34 bombers flew from Iran’s Hamadan base Tuesday to attack Islamic State and Nusra Front targets in Syria’s Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib provinces, the country’s defense ministry said in an e-mailed statement. They returned to the base after completing their missions, according to the statement.