Russia hits back at US claims over its Syria raids from Iran

[webfact]

Russia hits back at US claims over its Syria raids from Iran

 

 

MOSCOW: -- Russia has rejected US suggestions that it might be violating a UN resolution by using an Iranian air base to launch air strikes in Syria.

 

UN Security Council Resolution 2231 prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran.

 

The US State Department said on Wednesday its attorneys were assessing whether Russia has violated the resolution but had not yet reached a determination.

 

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Russia’s continued use of the Iranian base to strike Syrian targets “doesn’t help” to reach a cessation of hostilities in the country’s civil war between government forces and militants.

 

He spoke after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded to the US allegations during a news conference in Moscow.

 

Lavrov told journalists: “There are no reasons to suspect Russia of violating Resolution 2231. According to this resolution it is necessary to coordinate with the UN Security Council the supply, sale and transfer to Iran of certain types of weapons, including military aircraft. In the case which is being discussed currently neither supply nor transfer or sale of military aircraft to Iran has taken place.”

 

He added: “These military aircraft are being used by Russian air forces with Iran’s agreement as a part of the anti-terrorist operation on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic and on the request of the legal Syrian leadership which the Islamic republic of Iran also cooperates with upon request.”

 

Iranian denial

At the same time the chairman of Iran’s parliament Ali Larijani stressed that Russia does not have a permanent military base within the Islamic Republic.

 

He told a parliamentary session: “We have not given a military base to anyone. The fact that we have cooperation with Russia as our ally over regional issues, specifically on Syria, does not mean that we have given the Russians a military base. If some media have reported such a thing, I deny that.”

 

Larijani’s comments seemed to be more aimed at addressing concerns within his own country over the Russian air strikes.

Iran’s constitution, ratified after its 1979 Islamic Revolution, states no foreign power can have a permanent military base on its soil.

 

US calls use of Hamadan air base “unfortunate”

Russia’s Defence Ministry said that on Wednesday SU-34 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 Tuesday, deepening its involvement in the five-year-old Syrian civil war and angering the United States.

 

Washington called the move “unfortunate”.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-08-18

[Searat7]

Russia always denies everything. I don't know how Lavrov sleeps at night.

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, Searat7 said:

Russia always denies everything. I don't know how Lavrov sleeps at night.

That's the problem when you don't have freedom of the press.  Can't believe anything their media outlets publish.

[ilostmypassword]

Well, it seems the resolution forbids the sale or use of aircraft by the Iranian. It doesn't cover Russian use of their own aircraft at an Iranian base.

[Srikcir]

Russia flying its military aircraft out of Iran is no different than US-allied forces using Jordon, Iraq and Turkey. And Russia has been following Rules of Engagement protcol by coordinating its flights with the US-allies in overflying Iraq and Syria.

What is more important is what have been Russia's targets ... typically it seems whoever endangers the Syrian armed forces, be it ISIL or Syrian rebels. Asaad gives Russia its only all-season warm water sea port and Putin will not let a regime change interfer.

[derator01]

A troll post has been removed from view.

[thaihome]

Well, it's a long resolution but finally found where it appears the issue is:

https://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/3595039.84451294.html

5. All States may participate in and permit, provided that the Security Council decides in advance on a case-by-case basis to approve: the supply, sale or transfer directly or indirectly from or through their territories, or by their nationals or individuals subject to their jurisdiction, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and whether or not originating in their territories, to Iran, or for the use in or benefit of Iran, of any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems, as defined for the purpose of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, or related materiel, including spare parts, and the provision to Iran by their nationals or from or through their territories of technical training, financial resources or services, advice, other services or assistance related to the supply, sale, transfer, manufacture, maintenance, or use of arms and related materiel described in this subparagraph.
 

Can see why the lawyers want to look at this. They just love this kind of stuff.

TH 

[bassman]

Syria is a huge tragedy resulting from American foreign policy of the Obama administration.  The US should have put in a no fly zone early in the conflict, and definitely after the crossing of Obama's "Red Line" concerning the use of chemical weapons on civilians.  These opportunities were lost once Russia entered the fray.

 

The administration's sucking up to Iran, while at the same time their ignorant early withdraw from Iraq has led to the current situation.  Remember these Russian jets are overflying Iraq.   Iran's hegemony now reaches through Iraq and into Lebanon (Hezbollah) in their support of Assad.

 

By not putting the no fly zone up it has made Syria and its people victims of attacks from whoever, whenever.  What is even more alarming is the Iran/Russian alliance now reaches into the Persian Gulf and endangers the worlds energy supplies.  Alarm bells should be ringing worldwide.

 

[Freakin Musashi]

20-20 hindsight.

[craigt3365]

10 minutes ago, bassman said:

Syria is a huge tragedy resulting from American foreign policy of the Obama administration.  The US should have put in a no fly zone early in the conflict, and definitely after the crossing of Obama's "Red Line" concerning the use of chemical weapons on civilians.  These opportunities were lost once Russia entered the fray.

 

The administration's sucking up to Iran, while at the same time their ignorant early withdraw from Iraq has led to the current situation.  Remember these Russian jets are overflying Iraq.   Iran's hegemony now reaches through Iraq and into Lebanon (Hezbollah) in their support of Assad.

 

By not putting the no fly zone up it has made Syria and its people victims of attacks from whoever, whenever.  What is even more alarming is the Iran/Russian alliance now reaches into the Persian Gulf and endangers the worlds energy supplies.  Alarm bells should be ringing worldwide.

 

A no fly zone would have been great.  A missed opportunity that's cost the lives of thousands.  Yet, if the US had gotten more involved, many would be screaming for the US to mind it's own business.  Ya can't win! LOL

[Scott]

The setting up of a no-fly zone requires the cooperation of all countries involved.   The Iraqi no-fly zone was arguably set up under UN Security Council 688 and it was enforced by The British, French and US.   In the case of the Kurds, the no fly zone protected them from air strikes, with that, the Kurds were able to protect themselves.  

 

The US could neither set up, nor enforce, without the threat of a wider war, any type of no-fly zone over Syria without a lot of international cooperation.   Saddam was isolated and had no real allies in the international arena.   Assad most certainly does.  

 

Iraq was an basically an uprising when the no-fly zones were set up.   Syria is in the midst of a full fledged civil war.  

[Srikcir]

48 minutes ago, bassman said:

their ignorant early withdraw from Iraq

48 minutes ago, bassman said:

 

The US was requested by newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki to withdraw from a sovereign nation's soil and did so. Mr. Maliki's new majority depended partly on followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Also, Malaiki ignorantly thought his new government and the country's security forces were capable of confronting any remaining threats to Iraq's security, sovereignty and unity.

Edited August 19, 2016 by Srikcir
added "thought"

[craigt3365]

8 minutes ago, Scott said:

The setting up of a no-fly zone requires the cooperation of all countries involved.   The Iraqi no-fly zone was arguably set up under UN Security Council 688 and it was enforced by The British, French and US.   In the case of the Kurds, the no fly zone protected them from air strikes, with that, the Kurds were able to protect themselves.  

 

The US could neither set up, nor enforce, without the threat of a wider war, any type of no-fly zone over Syria without a lot of international cooperation.   Saddam was isolated and had no real allies in the international arena.   Assad most certainly does.  

 

Iraq was an basically an uprising when the no-fly zones were set up.   Syria is in the midst of a full fledged civil war.  

It doesn't help that Russian and China vetoed several UN resolutions with regards to Syria.  Making things like a no-fly zone impossible, as you point out.

 

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47860#.V7ZJXjWjv9A

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/23/russian-vetoes-putting-un-security-council-legitimacy-at-risk-says-us

 

Quote

Russia has used its veto powers four times to block resolutions on Syria that Moscow sees as damaging to its ally, the regime of Bashar al-Assad. It has also forestalled common action on Ukraine where it is a party to the conflict, having annexed Crimea and pursued a covert military campaign in support of eastern separatists.