俄罗斯从伊朗发动对叙利亚ISIS的空袭

AS IT IS 2016-08-20 Russia Defends Use of Iranian Base to Launch Syrian Airstrikes 俄罗斯从伊朗发动对叙利亚ISIS的空袭

Russia is defending its use of an Iranian air base to launch airstrikes against targets in Syria.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russian fighter jets are using the Hamedan air base with Iran’s approval. He said the aircraft are supporting what he called “counter-terrorism” operations in Syria.

Russia’s defense¹ ministry² said it started using the base this week to attack Islamic State (IS) positions in northern and eastern Syria. The defense ministry said the attacks also targeted Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the militant³ group formerly⁴ known as the al-Nusra Front.

The United States is leading an international coalition⁵ against IS forces in Iraq and Syria. The coalition cleared the way for the Russian airplanes to pass over Iraq on their way from Iran to Syria.

Coalition spokesman Chris Garver confirmed the flights.

“They informed us they were coming through, and we insured safety of flight as those bombers⁶ passed through the area and toward their target.”

Russia has been carrying out airstrikes in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government for nearly a year. But until this week, all the flights started in Syria or Russia.

US reaction

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called Russia’s use of the Iranian air base “unfortunate, but not surprising or unexpected.” He noted⁷ that while Russia has said it is bombing IS and other militants⁸, the attacks “predominantly target moderate Syrian opposition⁹ forces.”

Toner also said Russia’s operation could violate a U.N. resolution banning the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov denied this.

“In this case. we’re discussing. There has been no supply, sale or transfer of fighter jets to Iran,” he told reporters.

Russia and Iran are both longtime supporters of Syrian President Assad. Rebel groups have been fighting forces supporting Assad during the country’s 5-year-old civil war.

State Department spokesman Toner said the United States is committed to pursuing “a credible¹⁰, nationwide cessation of hostilities,” as well as a political process to help achieve peace in Syria.

Using the base in Iran puts Russian fighter jets much closer to their targets. Flying from the Hamedan air base, instead of a Russian base in the north Caucasus, cuts the distance from about 2,000 kilometers to about 700 kilometers.

Viktor Ozerov is a Russian senator. He said the shorter flying distance will increase the accuracy of Russian airstrikes in Syria. He said it will also reduce the risk of being hit by ground-to-air missiles that may be launched by rebel groups in Syria.

In Iran, the head of the country's National Security Council was reported as saying that Iran and Russia cooperate on fighting terrorism in Syria. He said the two countries are sharing facilities in support of that goal.

The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, noted that Iran has not given Russia approval to operate a permanent base in its territory. But some military experts say Russia’s decision to use the Iranian air base could mean that the move will make it permanent.

Christopher Harmer is with the Institute for the Study of War. “This looks like Russia is acknowledging the limitations of operating from Syrian bases and is digging in for a long-term campaign based out of Iran,” he said.

Russia power shift?

Jonathan Adelman, from the University of Denver, said Russia’s latest move represents a clear change for the Russian government.

“First, it’s showing that the real power in the Middle East today is Russia. Secondly¹¹, that they are aligned¹², at the same moment, with both sides. They are supporting Syria. They are, of course, working together with the Iranians...”

Omar Lamrani is with the U.S.-based global intelligence community Stratfor. He said he also believes Russia’s movement of military equipment and personnel into Iran signals a change in Iran’s position in the Middle East.

“That says a lot to the Saudis,” Lamrain said. “That says a lot to the Gulf¹³ Cooperation Council. They’re going to be asking such questions as, ‘If we do come into conflict with Iran, does that also mean we are coming into conflict with Russia?’”

Words in This Story

unfortunate – adj. unlucky

predominantly – adv. mainly, mostly

credible – adj. able to be trusted of believed

cessation –n. the end of something happening, especially violence

accuracy – n. how exact or correct something is

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

4 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

11 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

12 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

13 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。