WASHINGTON - Russia's use of an Iranian air base to carry out military strikes in Syria is 'unfortunate but not surprising,' a US State Department official said on Tuesday, adding Washington is still assessing the extent of Russian-Iranian cooperation. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Russia's use of the Iranian bases would not necessarily prevent the United States from reaching a deal with Moscow to cooperate in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. But he added that 'we're not there yet' on a cooperation agreement, noting that Moscow has continued to strike moderate Syrian forces supported by the United States.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)