[5] The airbase is named after Captain Mohammad Noje who became, on August 16, 1979, the first IRIAF pilot to be killed in action.

[7] Since 16 August 2016,[8] the Russian Air Force′s[9][8] Tupolev Tu-22M long-range bombers[8] and Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighters[8] have used the base for conducting raids over Syria as part of the Russia's military intervention[8] into the Syrian conflict.

It is the first time Iran has let a foreign country use its territory for military operations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

[13][14] The following day, on 21 August, he appeared to criticise Russia's actions as rash and self-aggrandizing and was quoted as saying, “Under no circumstances will we ever provide Russians with a military base.

They have not come here to stay.”[15] On 22 August 2016, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said Russia would stop using the air base for Syria airstrikes "for the time being".