|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.irantracker.org/analysis/bucala-hawrey-irans-airbridge-to-syria-july-13-2016
Iran's Airbridge to Syria
(American Enterprise Institute) Paul Bucala and Ken Hawrey - Boeing and Airbus are set to sell nearly 200 aircraft to Iran's state airline, Iran Air, despite indicators that Tehran is already using the airline's aircraft to support its efforts in Syria. Since June 2015, 31 airplanes belonging to Iran Air and the private airline Mahan Air have departed from airports in Iran and landed in Syria, according to public flight-tracking data from Flightrader24.com. Tehran appears to have developed an expansive network of repurposed commercial aircraft to supply its expanding war effort in Syria. Tehran would be unable to conduct this resupply effort without the use of commercial aircraft. If the U.S. is serious about pressing Iran to curtail its backing of Assad and other terrorist proxies in the region, then preventing Tehran from increasing its ability to maintain its airbridge should be a priority.