Russia uses Iran to strike Syria militants again

Russia’s Defence Ministry said that SU34 fighter bombers flying from Iran’s Hamadan air base had struck Islamic State targets in Syria’s Deir al-Zor province, destroying two command posts and killing more than 150 militants. Moscow first used Iran as a base from which to launch air strikes in Syria on Wednesday, deepening its involvement in the five-year-old Syrian civil war and angering the US. Washington called the move “unfortunate” and said it was looking into whether Russia’s move had violated UN Security Council resolution 2231, which prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was not supplying Iran with aircraft. “These aircraft are being used by Russia’s air force with Iran’s agreement as a part of an anti-terrorist operation at the request of Syria’s leadership,” he added.