Now Iran pawns target US base as Middle East tensions reach new high

A SUICIDE drone exploded near a US base in Iraq yesterday as tensions in the Middle East continued to rise.

The attack, believed to be the work of Tehran-backed militias, came after Pakistan fired rockets and drones on targets in Iran in response to Iranian attacks on its territory on Tuesday.

In the more than 100 days since Hamas launched its attacks against Israel, the conflict has seen more than 25,000 deaths. Most of these have been in Gaza where 2.3 million Palestinians have fled their homes.

Hopes for a end to the hostilities grew fainter last night after Israel’s prime minisdays, ter Benjamin Netanyahu reasserted his opposition to a Palestinian state. He told a press conference: ‘In any future arrangement... Israel needs security control [over] all territory west of the Jordan. This collides with the idea of sovereignty.’

The attack on the US base demonstrates how the conflict has expanded across the region.

The ‘one-way attack’ drone was intercepted and exploded on landing close to an airport used by US personnel in Erbil, northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, in response to an attack on its territory, Pakistan launched air strikes inside Iran.

Pakistan insisted it had singled out terrorist infrastructure and was not seeking conflict – arguments used by Tehran for its strike. Iran’s attack on Pakistan earlier this week was its third on a neighbouring state in as many following strikes on Iraq and IS forces in Syria.

More than 50 drone and rocket attacks have been launched against foreign troops in Iraq since October 17, the US defence department said. Most of the attacks have been claimed by the Iranianbacked Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

This week’s operations have been interpreted as Iran reminding Israel and the US of its military capabilities.

At least two children were killed in Iran’s attack on Pakistan while at least nine people, including four children, were killed in Pakistan’s strikes. Iran and Pakistan both insisted they were pursuing security interests and described each other as ‘brotherly’. But Pakistan has put its military on ‘extremely’ high alert, according to security sources, in case of further violations by Iran.

Both nations expressed a desire for dialogue and, it is understood, their foreign ministers discussed measures to reduce tensions. Iran said it targeted the terror group Jaish al-Adl, while Pakistan said it targeted separatists from the province of Balochistan.

Last night, Iranian-backed militants claimed to have also shot down a US reconnaissance drone over Iraq but this could not be verified.

Tehran condemned Pakistan’s actions and interior minister Ahmad Vahidi said four children, three women and two men, who were foreign nationals, have been killed.

Describing its operations, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said: ‘There was a series of highly co-ordinated precision strikes on the terrorists’ hideouts. The sole objective was in pursuit of Pakistan’s security.’

As Pakistan’s response was proportionate, security sources suggested further engagements were unlikely. Dr Sanam Vakil of the UK’s Chatham House thinktank said: ‘There is space for deescalation. Both countries are attacking “terror groups” that are threatening both countries.’

‘One-way attack drone’