Russian Aerospace Forces group carrying out tasks in Syria not planned to expand via Iranian airbase - Ozerov
MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - Part of the Russian air group conducting strikes in Syria will probably be deployed in Iran, and the increase of the Russian Aerospace Forces' contingent in the region is as yet out of the question, Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Chairman Viktor Ozerov said.
However, he has no doubt that in the event that Russian President Vladimir Putin introduces in the Federation Council the agreement on the deployment of the Russian Aerospace Forces' group to Iran's Hamadan airbase, the members will ratify this document, as it did the similar one on Syria.
"We left our group in the way which is needed to support the military operations of the Syrian army. Neither the defense minister, nor the Russian president have yet spoken of the increase in number of our aircraft and helicopters [in Syria]. That is why I can only assume at the moment that the group which is currently in Syria will be divided in various proportions," he told Interfax on Wednesday in reply to a question as to how large a group is planned to be deployed in Iran.
Russia will use Iran's Hamadan airbase "depending on the developing situation," he said.
"Such orders will be given depending on the analysis of the situation and necessity of making decisions on conducting any given strikes," he said.
Using the Iranian airbase offers the Russian Aerospace Forces an opportunity to vary the delivery of air strikes on the Syrian militants from different airfields, Ozerov said. This will make it difficult for the terrorists to locate where the next air strike will be conducted from, he said.
"Thus, it will allow for an increase in the efficiency of conducting our strikes and minimizing the risks which our pilots still face while carrying out the military operations," he said.
Although the terrorists do not yet have state-of-the-art air defense systems, they still have certain opportunities to conduct air strikes, and Russia will minimize these risks owing to the use of the Iranian airbase, Ozerov said.
"Moreover, it shows the level of military and political relations between Russia and Iran. The fact that Iran gave consent means that it supports the Russian operation in Syria in fact rather than in word," he said.
Ozerov said he is confident that the Federation Council will ratify the agreement on the deployment of the group of the Russian Aerospace Forces to Iran's Hamadan airbase, as it did the similar document on Syria, should the Russian president introduce it.