NBC

Russia Takes Swipe at U.S. State Department, Defends Using Iran Bases for Syria Strikes

Russia took a scornful swipe at the United States on Wednesday, defending its use of Iranian air bases to launch air strikes on Syria and suggesting State Department officials should "check their logic and knowledge" over the issue, NBC News reported.

On Tuesday Mark Toner, Deputy spokesman for the State Department described Moscow's use of Iranian facilities as "unfortunate, but not surprising" and said the U.S. was looking into whether Russia's move violated a U.N resolution, which prohibits the supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran

A spokesman for Russia's Ministry of Defense responded Wednesday and said the resolution only covered the use of warplanes "inside Iran."

Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, also pointed out that the U.S. was using a Turkish air base to support its own airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.

"We would suggest they consider the answer to the simple question: whether there is at least one article of the U.N. Charter, Security Council resolution or bilateral U.S.-Syrian treaty allowing the bombardment of Syrian territory by drones and planes from the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, or any other foreign air bases."

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