Russia has stopped using air bases in Iran for strikes in Syria after a short-lived campaign from the country. Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan called Russia’s publicizing the use of the air bases a “betrayal of trust,” saying on Monday that Russian aircraft were not there to stay, according to Reuters. There was no written agreement, and the bases were only used for refueling, Iranian officials reiterated. Russia last week said it used the Shahid Nojeh Air Base near Hamedan to refuel before striking in Syria. The US State Department said the move was “unfortunate but not surprising,” and questioned whether it violated UN Security Resolutions on combat aircraft in Iran.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
