By Ahmet Dursun

ISTANBUL

Russian fighter jets are now using Iranian airbases to strike targets in Syria, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), confirmed Tuesday, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

When asked about the reported deployment of Russian warplanes in Iran’s western Hamedan province, the news agency quoted Shamkhani as saying that both countries were jointly using their military capacities to fight Syria-based "terrorist groups".

"This is a part of the ongoing strategic coordination between Tehran and Moscow," he said.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier that Russian warplanes were now striking "terrorist" targets in Syria from Iran’s Hamedan airbase.