Syria defends Iran attack on militants
BEIRUT — Syria’s foreign minister said in remarks broadcast Tuesday that the Iranian ballistic missile attack on militants in eastern Syria the previous day was part of “legitimate” cooperation between the two countries to combat terrorism.
Walid al-Moallem’s comments came during an interview with the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched six ballistic missiles as well as drone bombers toward Syria’s Deir el-Zour province Monday, targeting Islamic State militants it blamed for an attack on a military parade in Iran last month.
Last year, Iran struck militant positions in Deir el-Zour’s town of Mayadeen after another attack, in Tehran, that was blamed on the Islamic State.
Syrian government forces and allied Iranian-backed militias gained control of the strategic border town of Boukamal, near where the strikes took place, late last year, likely improving Iran’s intelligence and capabilities in the area.
“The Iranian missiles are in the framework of combating terrorism,” said al-Moallem.
The Syrian government and its allies, as well as the U.S.led coalition, are separately battling the Islamic State, which still controls a sliver of land along Syria’s border with Iraq.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said its strikes killed some 40 militant leaders.