0MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday announced for the first time it had flown bombing raids against jihadist groups in Syria from an airbase in Iran after deploying its warplanes to the country. Conducting its bombing raids from Iran will dramatically cut the time it takes Moscow’s long-range bombers to reach Syria. But Hmeimim has only short-range planes and fighter jets, meaning long-range bombers had to be deployed from southern Russia. Fighting for Aleppo has intensified after regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July. The increased fighting has raised concerns for the estimated 1.5 million civilians still in Aleppo, including some 250,000 in rebel-held areas.

Source: Manila Times August 16, 2016 11:37 UTC