Israeli Satellite Images Reveal: Iran Builds Military Base Near Damascus
The images reportedly show two warehouses storing missiles capable of hitting all of Israel. According to the report, members of the Iran Revolutionary Guard's special operations Quds Force are operating the base.
Last week, the New York Times reported the locations of dozens of bases in Syria operated by Iranian forces, including a map showing the location of a T4 airbase near Tadmor. Also in the map was the airport of Damascus, which Israel has reportedly attacked on multiple occasions.
Two weeks ago, an Iranian drone that crossed into Israeli airspace was intercepted by the Israel Air Force, sparking a flare-up between Israel and Syria, with an Israeli F-16 shot down and an extensive Israeli strike against Iranian and Syrian targets in Syria.
Both Iran and Russia have troops fighting in Syria.
Krishna, thanks for seeding this. Real news like this is needed. Perhaps it could outnumber the fake news. Nah! Who am I kidding? In any case, thank you for what you do. From the start it has been hard to identify the bad guys in Syria from the worse guys in Syria and with Russia and Iran involved it is tough for folks like me to keep up and as you know one has to go looking for real news stories. I hate it when refugees from places like Syria are demonized. The only good choice regarding families in Syria remains to get out of Syria as soon as possible. I cannot imagine a worse delima that being forced to choose a side when there are no good sides to pick. The whole situation makes me sick to think about...
Yes they are both fighing in Syria. Russia now has a port facility in Syria for their navy...
Actually, IMO, Syria has become a outpost and staging zone for the Russians and Iranians..
Russia's armed intervention in Syria turned the tide of the conflict in favour of Putin's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It has been portrayed inside Russia as a display of Russia's resurgent military might.
It has, though, come at a cost.
According to a Reuters tally based on official announcements before Tuesday's crash, 44 Russian service personnel have died in Syria since the operation started in September 2015.
In one incident last month, Syrian rebels shot down a Russian warplane. The pilot ejected and died on the ground in a gunfight with rebels.
In addition to those deaths, in December 2016 a plane carrying a Russian military orchestra to Syria crashed in the Black Sea, killing all 92 people on board.
Under a decree signed by Putin, the Russian authorities do not have to disclose all deaths of service personnel in Syria because they are classified as a state secret.
The official toll does not include private military contractors who, according to people familiar with the deployment, are in Syria fighting in support of the Russian operation. Moscow denies they exist. (Link)
Its often considered "politically correct" to bash the U.S. for any military presence overseas. But the fact that Russia has a YUGE military presence in Syria is often overlooked. (And Iran's military is meddling in Syrian affairs as well).
Not surprising. Syria is going to serve as Russia and Iran's forward operating base in the Middle East.