A Russian senator on Tuesday praised the "anti-terrorist coalition" of Russia, Syria, Iran, and Iraq, after Russian warplanes deployed from an airbase in Iran to bomb targets in Syria.
Senator Franz Klintsevich, who serves as first deputy chairman on the Federation Council Committee for Defense and Security, also said that he expects "new forms of cooperation" between Russia and these countries in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, according to a report in Russia’s TASS news agency.
His statements come as the Obama administration is seeking to work closer with Russia to combat ISIS in Syria. Russian warplanes have targeted U.S.-backed Syrian opposition forces fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
"In my opinion, now we have all grounds to say that the anti-terrorist coalition of Russia, Syria, Iran and Iraq has not been only set up, but is showing greater efficiency. I think new forms of cooperation between these countries in the battle against IS can soon be expected," Klintsevich told journalists, according to the report.
"Finally and maybe most importantly is that by providing the Iranian base for Russian Tu-22M3 aircraft use will enhance strategic cooperation between both countries, which would positively influence the entire situation in the Middle East," Klintsevich added.
Earlier Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said that it had used Iran’s Hamadan air base to launch air strikes against targets in Syria, the first time Russia has used another nation’s territory, other than Syria, to launch airstrikes in its bomb campaign there. Russia and Iran are both allies of Assad.
One day prior, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Russia and the United States are nearing joint military action against ISIS in Syria. The Obama administration proposed a plan for closer military cooperation with Russia in Syria in June.
Russia has claimed to be primarily targeting ISIS with airstrikes but has instead hit U.S.-backed rebels fighting Assad in the region. The U.S. Navy unsuccessfully scrambled jets to prevent Russian warplanes from bombing a border garrison housing U.S.-supported rebels in southern Syria in June, an incident that Moscow has denied.