Syrian refugee children play at Syrian Zattari refugee camp near the city of Mafraq, Jordan, July 14, 2016. The Czech Government funded a project to provide new electric power network at Syrian Zattari refugee camp. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh)
TEHRAN, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian security official said on Tuesday that Iran and Russia are "strategic" allies in fighting terrorism in Syria, local Press TV reported.
"Tehran-Moscow cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Syria is strategic and we exchange capacities and potentialities in this field," Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was quoted as saying.
His remarks came after an earlier statement by Russia's Defense Ministry on Tuesday that Russian warplanes used an air base in the western Iranian city of Hamedan to target Islamic State (IS) terrorists and other militants in Syria.
"On Aug. 16, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 frontline bombers, flying with a full bomb load from the Hamedan air base, conducted a group air strike against targets of the IS and Jabhat Fath al-Sham terrorists in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Dayr al-Zawr and Idlib," the Russian ministry said.
Shamkhani also said Iran will continue to provide military advice to countries plagued with terrorism, including Syria.
Iran, a major regional ally of the Syrian government in its fight against militant groups, has repeatedly acknowledged the presence of its military advisers in the Arab state.
