Russia withdraws warplanes from Iranian base: Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi addresses a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Aug 22, 2016. Iran said on Monday that Russia has stopped using Iranian Hamedan airbase for carrying out operations against militants in Syria. [Photo/Xinhua]

MOSCOW - Russia has withdrawn its military aircraft from Iran's Hamadan air base for strikes in Syria, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov confirmed on Monday.

"Currently, all aircraft of the Airspace Force involved in the operation are on the territory of the Russian Federation," Konashenkov said in a statement.

Further use of the base by Russian warplanes will be done in accordance with bilateral agreements with Iran and depend on the situation in Syria, he added.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian government said Russia has stopped using the base for military operation in Syria.

Beginning on Aug 16, Russian bombers took off from the Hamadan base in western Iran for three consecutive days to strike terrorist targets in Syria.