Iran opens base to Russian warplanes striking Syria

Russia launched airstrikes on targets in Syria today from an air base in Iran—the first time a major world power has used the Islamic Republic to stage military attacks since its revolution in 1979. Russian military officials say the raids “eliminated” five major Islamic State (ISIS) arms depots, three command points, and training camps in the cities of Serakab, Al-Bab, Aleppo, and Deir Ezzor. The bombing run also killed a “significant number of militants,” according to Russian officials. Despite Moscow’s claims of targeting ISIS terrorists, most of its airstrikes during the Syrian conflict have hit U.S.-backed rebel groups fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Pentagon. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently threatened to start providing more aid to the rebels if Russia didn’t change its tactics.