Iran’s new air base near border with Turkey: What we know

Adam Lucente

This handout picture provided by the Iranian Army office on Dec. 24, 2023, shows soldiers attending the unveiling ceremony of a new missile system. — This handout picture provided by the Iranian Army office on Dec. 24, 2023, shows soldiers attending the unveiling ceremony of a new missile system at a naval base near the Indian Ocean in the southern Iranian port of Konarak. — Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images

Iran unveiled a new military base in the northwest of the country on Wednesday, broadly citing threats in the region.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps opened the Martyr Maj. Gen. Mahmoudabadi Airbase in Urmia, the capital of the West Azerbaijan province. IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The agency described an unnamed commander as saying at the ceremony that “Iran faces threats in its northwest from enemies and elements opposed to the Islamic Revolution," while Brig. Gen. Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian said the base will boost Iran’s defenses.

IRGC opens new air base in Iran’s northwesthttps://t.co/Jmo93ZwzYZ pic.twitter.com/sodgU0LtD5
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) September 11, 2024

Urmia is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Turkish border.

The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Search

Iran’s new air base near border with Turkey: What we know

The unveiling of the base near the Turkish border comes amid Iranian concerns about Azerbaijan and Kurdish groups in Iraq.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Continue reading this exclusive analysis

Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish

Read By