International

Georgia a base for Iran attack: Russia

MOSCOW: Russia’s envoy to NATO has said the U.S. plans to use airfields in Georgia for a war on Iran.

Ambassador Dmitry Rogozin said Russian intelligence had obtained information indicating that Washington had launched “active military preparations on Georgia’s territory” for an air strike on Iran.

Mr. Rogozin said Georgia would be an ideal bridgehead for such an invasion. “The reason why Washington values [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili’s regime so highly” is that he has given permission to the Pentagon to use its airfields, he said.

“Georgia’s President is ready to make his nation a virtual hostage of a risky military gamble,” he said.

The U.S. had provided massive military aid to Georgia in the run-up to its foray into South Ossetia. The Russian military voiced suspicions that U.S. warships sent to the Black Sea to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia had brought military supplies to replenish Georgian losses in the war with Russia.

A Moscow-based daily reported earlier that the Russian military response derailed U.S. plans to attack Iran using Georgian airfields.

Other reports suggested that the Georgian airfields could also be used by Israel for an attack on Iran.

Israel had supplied Georgia with sophisticated Hermes 450 UAV spy drones, multiple rocket launchers and other military equipment that Georgia, as well as modernised Georgia’s Soviet-made tanks that were used in the attack against South Ossetia.

Israeli instructors had also helped train Georgia troops.

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