Iran praises underground air force base

The Iranian military has released images of an underground air force base. From there, fighter jets, bombers or drones could launch surprise attacks, reports the state news agency IRNA. It is “one of numerous tactical underground bases for the Army Air Force that have been built in various areas of the country in recent years.”

The exact location was not revealed. According to the report, the military base “Oghab 44” (Persian for: eagle) is “several hundred meters below the mountains”. It can also withstand US attacks, they say.

Time not chosen at random

The release comes just ahead of “Iranian Air Force Day” this Wednesday and ahead of the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which will be celebrated on Saturday. In May 2022, Iran first showed images of a drone base in the Sagros Mountains in the west of the country. In recent years, state television has reported on an underground drone base and Revolutionary Guard missile depots.

This is likely due to an effort to show military strength, while Tehran also continues to expand its nuclear program and violates the provisions of the 2015 international nuclear agreement, from which the US withdrew in 2018. At the same time, the leadership of the Islamic Republic has asserted that it is not aiming for a nuclear bomb.

Axis Tehran – Moscow

The country’s drone program has made headlines recently: the West has accused Iran of supplying Russia with combat drones, which are used to attack civilian infrastructure, homes and hospitals in Ukraine.

Iran has mostly Soviet-era Russian MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets, as well as some Chinese planes. The Iranian fleet also includes some US F-4 and F-5 fighter jets, which date back to before the revolution in Iran. Most of the military installations are kept secret.

jj/uh (dpa, afp)