Russian Jet Fighters’ Use of Iranian Base Seen as Extraordinary

The use of an Iranian air base by Russian jet fighters en route to bombing runs in Syria set off explosions louder than the bombs that they dropped. Western media is viewing the latest Putin attention-grabber as a message to the Obama administration that there are other players with whom Russia can align if Washington is not interested. It was roundly noted that Tehran has never allowed foreign powers to use its bases for staging combat runs and much is being made of the “what-if” of a three-way alliance between Russia, Iran and the Lebanon-based Iranian terror proxy Hizbullah. Reporters in Washington note the vagueness of the American administration’s responses to inquiries about the Russian intent. One question that reinforces the discussion of Moscow message-sending to Washington is the overall advantage of using Iranian airfields when Russia has facilities for its air force inside of Syria.