Tehran fires on terrorist targets in Pakistan
IRAN has raised fears of regional conflict by carrying out air strikes on terrorist targets in Pakistan.
The missile and drone attacks, which left two children dead, followed Iranian sorties against bases in Syria and Iraq.
Set against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Red Sea and the Israel-Hamas conflict, the military operations appear a statement of intent on Iran’s part.
The regime may have wanted to send a message to Israel and the United States by launching sophisticated cross-border attacks. Its arsenal of ballistic missiles could reach the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, causing huge casualties.
The Iranians have also supplied the military hardware to allied groups, including Hezbollah, the Houthis and Hamas.
Pakistan responded furiously to the attacks, recalling its ambassador from Tehran and expelling Iran’s envoy from Islamabad.
The countries were allies and had conducted military exercises together but Pakistan was not warned about the Iranian air strikes against Jaish al-Adl.
The Sunni terror group has bases in southwestern Pakistan and has been blamed by Iran for attacks along the border.
The Iranian strikes on Iraq, Syria and Pakistan were all conducted within 24 hours. Its forces destroyed what was claimed to be an Israeli intelligence headquarters near Erbil, in northern Iraq, and struck Islamic State targets in Syria.
Iran appears unflustered by condemnation from China or by formal protests from the countries in which it has carried out the operations. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said only infrastructure belonging to Jaish al-Adl had been targeted.
He added: ‘I have assured my Pakistani counterpart that we do respect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, also those of Iraq.’