Iran, Russia Step up Anti-Terror Campaign in Syria

Date: 17 August 2016 - 23:19

News ID: ۳۰۱۵۹

By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

It sits well with international law and it is official: Iran and Russia have agreed to step up their anti-terrorism campaign in Syria.
Much to the chagrin of the United States and its coalition of regime changers, Russian warplanes are launching airstrikes against terrorists in Syria, after refueling at the Hamedan Air Base, west of the capital city of Tehran. Previously, all Russian strikes in the war were launched from either Syrian territory itself, or from Russia.
Since the anti-terror campaign by the alliance of Iran, Syria, Iraq, Russia and Hezbollah has been a success in recent months, Moscow and Tehran have decided to intensify the war in order to flush out the remaining foreign-backed terrorists from territories they still hold.
Iranian officials have been quick to confirm that Russian jets were allwed to land for refueling at the base. It also doesn’t change anything on the ground when we hear U.S. officials claim they knew in advance that Iran was to allow Russia the use of the base. The alliance will do whatever is best for the people of Syria and their own security.
The thing is, the Tupolev bombers could not operate out of Russian bases in Latakia, Syria, which are too small to host them, and this gives them another option. Into the argument, the move has negative implications for the interests of regime changers. It would be a lot harder for them now to follow through on long-standing campaign to overthrow the elated government in Damascus.
Nevertheless, instead of helping Iran and Russia in the real war on terror, it is tragic to hear that the regional Arab allies of the United States are still pumping hundreds of millions of dollars of weapons and money into their "good” Syrian rebel groups  – a lot of which end up in the hands of ISIL and Al-Qaeda.
Strange enough, this is yet to convince them to cut off funding and cease the covert and overt facilitation that has allowed thousands of Western terrorists to stream into Syria. This is also yet to convince them to earnestly push for a comprehensive end to a conflict now seriously spinning out of control.
Instead, they seem stuck on the path they have pursued since the conflict first escalated. Which is to call for the toppling of the regime, and go about that by supporting, arming and trying to unite terrorist groups with little thought for the consequences this evil campaign has had and would have for the region and the world.
That said, Iran and Russia have what it takes to help Syria defeat all manners of terrorism and extremism. They will also help establish peace and security in the war-torn country, lack of Arab support notwithstanding.
After all, their new campaign is yet another sign that they are serious about resolving this terrible conflict, both for the sake of Syrian people and for the sake of global security and stability.