Shamkhani: Iran and Russia cooperate in anti-terror fight

As Russia Tuesday launched its first air strikes against terror targets in Syria from an Iranian air base, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that Iran and Russia were engaged in strategic cooperation for the fight against terrorism in Syria. “We put our facilities at Russia’s disposal for the war against terrorism,” he said.

Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 tactical bombers took off from the Hamedan air base for a “concentrated airstrike” against the Islamic State and Islamist Nusra Front, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.  Escorted by Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters based in Syria, the bombers targeted ammunition depots and command-and-control centers in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir Ez-Zour and Idlib, the statement said.