TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) – Secretary of SNSC said Iran and Russia’s cooperation in combating terrorism in Syria is strategic and the two sides share facilities in the anti-terror fight.

Ali Shamkhani made the remark on Tuesday in response to a question on Russia’s using an Iranian air base to launch air strikes against terror targets in Syria; “with the constructive and expansive cooperation among Iran, Russia, Syria and the Resistance Front, the situation has become very difficult for terrorists,” he said.

“The fight will pick up intensity with the launch of a new and massive operation against terrorists in Syria and will carry on until their complete destruction,” he stressed.

According to a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 tactical bombers took off from the Hamedan air base on Tuesday for a “concentrated airstrike” against ISIL and al-Nusra Front in Syria.

Elsewhere, Shamkhani pointed to the destabilizing measures by Saudi Arabia such as backing terrorist groups in Syria and Yemen and causing insecurity in Muslim countries, adding “it is not acceptable for the Islamic world and Muslim nations that Saudi Arabia spends its financial assets on strengthening Takfiri and terrorist groups instead of making efforts to liberate occupied Islamic territories from the clutches of the Zionist regime."

Shamkhani further highlighted that the Yemeni people do not need foreign support for their security, and called on international organizations to condemn military measures and all attempts aimed at imposing foreign will on the internal affairs of the country. 

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