MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia can fly jets from Iran's Hamadan airbase to strike jihadist targets in Syria for as long as needed, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said Saturday.
“The decision will remain in place until there is no need in it,” the minister told reporters in response to the question for how long Russia can use the air base, as quoted in a ministerial statement.
On Tuesday, Russia used the Iranian base for the first time in its anti-terrorism campaign in Syria. The Russian jets carried out airstrikes against Islamic State and the Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham, formerly known as Nusra Front, jihadist groups in Syria.