Russia has granted permission for Iranian aircraft originating from Tehran to land at the Hemeimeem military base in western Syria. This decision was made due to the unavailability of international airports in Damascus and Aleppo following Israeli airstrikes.
A plane affiliated with Mahan Air, linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, landed at the Hemeimeem base last Thursday and remained there for over six hours before returning to Tehran.
Sources from inside the base confirmed that the aforementioned plane did not carry passengers and was unloaded under the protection of Russian-Iranian military personnel. Following this, four military cargo vehicles departed from the airport, heading towards the international road leading to central and southern Syria.
It was noted that Russia’s authorization for Iran to use the Hemeimeem base came after weeks of negotiations. During this period, Russia had refrained from permitting Iranian aircraft to transport weapons through its airports, especially considering the repeated disruptions of service at Aleppo and Damascus airports.
Israeli media sources have suggested that the plane in question may have transported five tons of ammunition, including shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.
A week prior, Iran shipped “precision weapons” from Tehran to Syria via a civilian plane that landed at the Shayrat military airport in the Homs countryside.
Iran’s has necome obliged to use the Hemeimeem base and the Sh’airat Airport due to the repeated targeting of Aleppo and Damascus airports by Israel, resulting in their temporary closure on multiple occasions over the past two weeks.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
