since 16 august 2016, the russian air force′s tupolev tu-22m long-range bombers and sukhoi su-34 strike fighters have used the base for conducting raids over syria as part of the russia′s military intervention into the syrian conflict. the bombing missions support the syrian arab army in operations against the syrian opposition and the islamic state. it is the first time iran has let a foreign country use its territory for military operations since the 1979 iranian revolution.