Iran has launched several ballistic missiles into eastern Syria in retaliation against militants it believes are responsible for a recent attack on its own soil.

The country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday through state media it had fired six missiles at paramilitary groups stationed close to the Euphrates River.

Military officials said the air strike, the second such missile attack by Iran on Syria in just over a year, had “killed and injured�? some militants, without elaborating further.

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“Security of the Iranian people is the armed forces' redline and the IRGC spares no efforts in maintaining peace and security,�? the IRGC said in a statement.

State TV footage showed missiles launching from the western province of Kermanshah, while a graphic suggested rockets flew over central Iraq before landing near Abu Kamal in southeastern Syria.

One missile shown on screens before the attack bore the slogans “Death to America�?, “Death to Israel�?, and “Death to Al Saud,�? a reference to Saudi Arabia’s ruling family.

“This is the roaring of missiles belonging to the Revolutionary Guard of the Islamic Revolution,�? the state TV's reporter said as the missiles launched behind him.

“In a few minutes, the world of arrogance – especially America, the Zionist regime and the Al Saud – will hear the sound of Iran's repeated blows.�?

Iranian forces also launched a drone attack shortly after the initial strike, state media reported.

The operation further complicates the question of who carried out the attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz last month, which killed at least 25 people and injured 60 others.

Iran initially blamed Arab separatists for the incident, in which gunmen disguised as soldiers opened fire on the crowd and officials watching the parade from a viewing platform.

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An Arab nationalist group immediately claimed responsibility for the shooting, but offered details about the attackers that ultimately proved untrue.

Isis also claimed responsibility for the assault, although it too made factually incorrect claims about the incident.

Later, the terror group released footage of several men that Iran identified as the attackers, though those in the footage never pledged allegiance to the extremist group.

In announcing the attack, Iranian state media said the missiles targeted both “takfiri�? militants - a term it often applies to Isis - and Ahvazi separatists, two groups not known to work together.

The IRGC said based on evidence from the Ahvaz attack, “terrorists�? in eastern Syria are supported and guided by the United States.

It claimed the group was acting in line with “satanic�? plans of the White House, “the Zionist regime�? – Iranian parlance for Israel – and a “regional power�?, a likely reference to Saudi Arabia.

Shape Created with Sketch. Inside Syria's obliterated ‘capital of the revolution’ Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Inside Syria's obliterated ‘capital of the revolution’ 1/10 The reconstructed Khaled Bin al-Waleed Mosque is framed by a damaged building, in the old city of Homs AP 2/10 Sumaya Bairuty, 38, an English-language teacher who works in the capital Damascus, speaks with The Associated Press while as she walks to her parents house in the war-damaged Bab Dreib neighborhood of Homs AP 3/10 Bairuty walks to her parents house AP 4/10 A family that returned to live in their apartment inside a heavily damaged building hang their carpets in the sun AP 5/10 A car drives through a devastated part of the old city AP 6/10 A pigeon keeper watches his pigeons fly from the roof of his home AP 7/10 Two people carry goods on a bicycle in the war-damaged neighborhood AP 8/10 Children play football in the street AP 9/10 It has been almost four years since the last rebels and civilians withdrew from the remaining strongholds in the ancient heart of Homs in Syria AP 10/10 A man rides his bicycle past a banner showing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad AP 1/10 The reconstructed Khaled Bin al-Waleed Mosque is framed by a damaged building, in the old city of Homs AP 2/10 Sumaya Bairuty, 38, an English-language teacher who works in the capital Damascus, speaks with The Associated Press while as she walks to her parents house in the war-damaged Bab Dreib neighborhood of Homs AP 3/10 Bairuty walks to her parents house AP 4/10 A family that returned to live in their apartment inside a heavily damaged building hang their carpets in the sun AP 5/10 A car drives through a devastated part of the old city AP 6/10 A pigeon keeper watches his pigeons fly from the roof of his home AP 7/10 Two people carry goods on a bicycle in the war-damaged neighborhood AP 8/10 Children play football in the street AP 9/10 It has been almost four years since the last rebels and civilians withdrew from the remaining strongholds in the ancient heart of Homs in Syria AP 10/10 A man rides his bicycle past a banner showing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad AP

The statement added that the Guard would deliver a “crushing response�? to acts of “wickedness�? by Iran’s enemies.

Monday’s attack marked the third time Tehran has used its ballistic missiles in anger in recent years.

Last year, Iran fired ballistic missiles into Syria over a bloody Isis attack on Tehran targeting parliament and the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

In September, Iranian forces fired missiles into Iraq targeting a base of an Iranian Kurdish separatist group, reportedly killing at least 11 people and wounding 50 more.

Additional reporting by AP</s>Iran's Revolutionary Guard has said it launched ballistic missiles into eastern Syria, targeting fighters it blamed for a recent attack on a military parade in southwestern Iran.

"Our iron fist is prepared to deliver a decisive and crushing response to any wickedness and mischief of the enemies," the Guards said in a statement on Monday.

The attack took place at 2am local time and targeted the bases of "takfiri terrorists" backed by America and regional powers in eastern Syria, the statement said. Iranian officials often use the word "takfiri" to describe Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) fighters.

The powerful military force said at least six missiles were fired into Syria. It added that seven drones were also used to bomb rebel targets during the attack, which killed a number of fighters and destroyed supplies and infrastructure used by the group.

Syrian state media did not immediately acknowledge the missile strike - the second such attack on Syria in more than a year.

Footage aired by the Iranian state television showed one of its reporters standing by as one of the missiles was launched, identifying the area as being in Iran's western province of Kermanshah.

A state TV-aired graphic suggested the missiles flew over central Iraq near the city of Tikrit before landing near the city of Al Bukamal, in the far southeastern region of Syria.

Al Bukamal is held by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but occasionally it has been targeted by fighters from the ISIL, who have lost almost all the territory they once held in Syria and Iraq.

Al Jazeera's Zein Basravi, reporting from Tehran, said Iran is illustrating it has the "ability and the military might to target any threat it sees to itself".

"The missile attacks were followed by bombardment ... signalling their military capabilities in the region," he said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said the deadly Iran attack was linked to the United States' "allies in the region".

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have denied involvement in the attack.

The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian ethnic Arab separatist movement, and the ISIL have both claimed responsibility for the September 22 attack in which 29 people were killed. Neither group has presented conclusive evidence to back up their claim.

The attack prompted President Hassan Rouhani to warn of a "crushing response", as those killed included members of the elite Revolutionary Guards and women and children who had come to watch the parade.

Iran initially blamed Arab separatists for the attack in which gunmen disguised as soldiers opened fire on the crowd and officials watching the parade from a viewing platform in the southwestern city.</s>Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analyses from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired six ballistic missiles “east of the Euphrates” in Syria to retaliate for an attack on the IRGC in Ahvaz on September 22. 



The attack shows Iran’s reach throughout the region and that Iran is willing to strike wherever it pleases and knows that air defense systems in Iraq and those by the Coalition in eastern Syria will not interdict it.





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Iranian media announced on Monday morning that the IRGC’s Aerospace Force had fired the missiles in the middle of the night. The missiles flew 570 km, crossing from Kermanshah in Iran over northern Iraq into Syria where Tehran says they struck areas east of the Euphrates near Al-Bukamal. Al-Bukamal is one of the only areas in Syria still held by Islamic State. IRGC members painted “death to America,” “Death to Israel,” and “Death to al-Saud,” a reference to Saudi Arabia, on the missiles.Video released by Iran showed the missiles reaching skyward in the dead of night. The regime scripted the bombardment as it had with the September 8 attack on Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq. During that ballistic missile attack the IRGC used seven Fateh 110 missiles and fired them near Tabriz. Kermanshah is 200 km south of that launch location.The launch comes after Iran had blamed Washington and Riyadh for the Ahvaz attack, claiming that they support groups in southwest Iran who oppose the regime. The attack was initially claimed by a local Arab group but later ISIS took responsibility. Iran’s statement on Monday left it unclear who was targeted in Al-Bukamal in Syria by the attack. Tehran fingered “Takfiri terrorists” which likely means ISIS, but could refer to other groups.Iran’s Fars News points out that these missiles represent a new achievement for Tehran, with “new technical features.” The IRGC chose the Zulfiqar and Qiam ballistic missiles to target Syria, which had been used last year in June to target ISIS in Deir Ez Zor. According to some accounts online one or two of the Qiam missiles crashed soon after launch.To fire the missiles over Iraqi airspace, Iran should have coordinated with Baghdad. However, it does not appear that Baghdad warned air traffic of the missile firings because major carriers were traversing Iraqi skies during the launch. The US Coalition operating in Iraq and Syria should also have been notified via Baghdad, but a statement from their spokesman said they received "no notice." The target of the missiles in the eastern Euphrates area would have been close to US forces and their Syrian Democratic Forces partners, which would have posed a threat."At this time, the Coalition is still assessing if any damage occurred and no Coalition forces were in danger," Sean Ryan, US spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a statement.The targeting of ISIS in Syria by Iran is a major escalation, primarily because the missiles overflew Iraq and landed near Coalition forces. Iran is an ally of Syria and Iran has warm relations with Baghdad. This shows that Tehran’s arc of influence stretches across these states and the IRGC does not see these states as having borders but rather being an area the IRGC is free to operate in.The ballistic missile strike comes in the wake of Iran’s claims at the United Nations General Assembly that the US is isolated and that Iran is the responsible player working with the international community. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the US administration was engaged in “destructive unilateralism” and that the US was a “rogue administration” with a “commitment to destabilizing the international system.”However, the IRGC has exploited instability in the Middle East in order to fire its ballistic missiles over Iraq and into Syria. It received little push-back after targeting Kurdish groups in northern Iraq in early September and it expects to receive no push-back this time. The international community would find it difficult to condemn the missile strike since it was targeting ISIS. But the slogans “death to America,” “death to Israel” and “death to al-Saud” point to a goal that is not just targeting ISIS. That air traffic over Iraq was not warned points to reckless behavior by the IRGC.This is the larger message of the ballistic missile strike. It shows Iran feels it can target Israel, the US or Saudi Arabia when the time comes. It is practicing by using its missiles on ISIS and Kurdish opposition groups.

Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>></s>Iran launched ballistic missiles into eastern Syria targeting the militants that the force has blamed for a recent attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran on Sept. 22, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Monday.

Strong explosions shook the area in the early hours Monday, reverberating east of the Euphrates River, according to Head of Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman.

The ballistic missiles used in the attack flew 570 km (354 miles) to hit the targets, the Guards said.

The area of Hajin and Daesh terrorists there have been under attack for weeks by U.S.-backed terrorist People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters.

"Our iron fist is prepared to deliver a decisive and crushing response to any wickedness and mischief of the enemies," the Guards said in the statement.

The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian ethnic Arab separatist movement, and Daesh have both claimed responsibility for the attack in which 25 people were killed.

Neither group has presented conclusive evidence to back up their claim.

The Revolutionary Guards, the most powerful security force in Iran, said in the statement six missiles were fired into Syria from western Iran.

Seven drones were also used to bomb militant targets during the attack, which killed a number of militant leaders and destroyed supplies and infrastructure used by the group, the Guards said.

Twelve Guards were among those killed in the attack on Sept. 22, when gunmen fired on a viewing stand as military officials watched a ceremony in the city of Ahvaz marking the start of Iran's 1980-1988 war with Iraq.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, said last week that the militants responsible were paid by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and that Iran would "severely punish" those behind the violence.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have denied involvement in the attack.

Fars News posted video footage of several missiles streaking into a dark sky during the attack.

"Death to the family of Saud," "Death to America," and "Death to Israel" were written on one of the missiles shown on the Fars News site.

In Monday's statement, the Guard said that based on evidence from the Ahvaz attack, the "terrorists" in eastern Syria are supported and guided by the United States in line with "satanic" plans of the White House, the Zionist regime — Iranian parlance for Israel — and a regional power, a reference to Saudi Arabia.

Last year, the Guards fired missiles at Daesh militants in Syria after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the parliament in Tehran and the mausoleum of the founder of Iran's revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that left at least 18 people dead and dozens wounded.</s>Tehran: Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said Monday that it launched ballistic missiles into eastern Syria, targeting militants which the force blames for a recent attack on a military parade.

The launch was the Islamic Republic's second such missile attack on Syria in over a year.

Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency said the attacks "killed and wounded" militants in Syria, without elaborating. Syrian state media did not immediately acknowledge the strike.

The TV aired footage of one of its reporters standing by as one of the missiles was launched, identifying the area as being in Iran's western province of Kermanshah. A state TV-aired graphic suggested the missiles flew over central Iraq near the city of Tikrit before landing near the city of Abu Kamal, in the far southeast of Syria.

Abu Kamal is held by forces loyal to Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad. However, the city has been targetted even now by militants from the extremist Islamic State group, who have lost almost all the territory they once held in Syria and Iraq.

One missile shown on state television bore the slogans "Death to America, Death to Israel, Death to Al Saud," referring to Saudi Arabia's ruling family. The missile also bore in Arabic the phrase "kill the friends of Satan," referring to a verse in the Quran on fighting infidels.

"This is the roaring of missiles belonging to the Revolutionary Guard of the Islamic Revolution," the state TV's reporter said as the missiles launched behind him. "In a few minutes, the world of arrogance — especially America, the Zionist regime and the Al Saud — will hear the sound of Iran's repeated blows."

The semi-official Fars news agency, believed to be close to the Guard, identified the six missiles used as Zolfaghar and Qiam variants, which have ranges of 750 kilometress and 800 kilometres respectively.

Iran also launched drone attacks on the site afterward, state TV reported.

The attack adds to confusion over who carried out an assault on a military parade in Ahvaz on 22 September that killed at least 24 people and wounded over 60.

Iran initially blamed Arab separatists for the attack in which gunmen disguised as soldiers opened fire on the crowd and officials watching the parade from a viewing platform in the southwestern city.

Arab separatists also immediately claimed the attack and offered details about one of the attackers that ultimately turned out to be true.

The Islamic State group also claimed responsibility for the assault, but initially made factually incorrect claims about it. Later, Islamic State released footage of several men that Iran ultimately identified as attackers, though the men in the footage never pledged allegiance to the extremist group.

In announcing the attack, Iranian state media said the missiles targeted both "takfiri" militants — a term it often applies to the Islamic State group — and Ahvazi separatists. The separatists have not been known to work with Islamic State in the past.

This is the third time in the last couple of years that Iran has fired its ballistic missiles in anger.

In 2017, Iran fired ballistic missiles into Syria over a bloody Islamic State attack on Tehran targeting parliament and the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. In September, Iran fired missiles into Iraq targeting a base of an Iranian Kurdish separatist group. The separatists say that strike killed at least 11 people and wounded 50.</s>TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched six ballistic missiles as well as drone bombers early Monday toward eastern Syria, targeting militants it blamed for an attack on a military parade last month while also threatening regional adversaries as Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers unravels.

The missiles had enough range to strike regional U.S. military bases and targets inside both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran's supreme leader has called out the two Arab nations by name, accusing them of being behind the Sept. 22 attack on the parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz, something denied by both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

Monday's strike was the second missile attack by Iran in a month's time, and came as tensions rise ahead of renewed U.S. sanctions targeting Tehran's oil industry that will take effect in early November.

"This is the roaring of missiles belonging to the Revolutionary Guard of the Islamic Revolution," a state TV reporter said as the missiles launched behind him. "In a few minutes, the world of arrogance — especially America, the (Israeli) Zionist regime and the Al Saud — will hear the sound of Iran's repeated blows." Al Saud is a reference to Saudi Arabia's royal family.

Iranian state TV and the state-run IRNA news agency said the missiles "killed and wounded" militants in Syria, without elaborating. The missiles, launched from western Iran, flew over Iraq and landed near the city of Boukamal in the far southeast of Syria, they reported.

"Terrorists used bullets in Ahvaz," Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, chief of the Guard's aerospace division, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency. "We answered them with missiles."

The Guard, a paramilitary group that answers directly to the supreme leader, said it followed the missiles with bombing runs by seven remotely piloted drones, a first for Iran. State TV aired footage of a drone dropping what appeared to be an unguided munition.

Boukamal is held by Syrian government forces, but IS still maintains a presence in the area, despite being driven from virtually all the territory it once held in Syria and Iraq.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told The Associated Press that the Iranian missiles hit the IS-held town of Hajin, just north of Boukamal.

Strong explosions shook the area early Monday, reverberating east of the Euphrates River, he said. U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters have been battling IS in and around Hajin for weeks.

The U.S. military's Central Command acknowledged that Iranian forces conducted "no-notice strikes" in the area.

"The coalition is still assessing if any damage occurred, and no coalition forces were in danger," U.S. Army Col. Sean Ryan said.

IS militants did not immediately acknowledge the attack.

The missile launch further adds to confusion over who carried out the assault on a military parade, which killed at least 24 people and wounded over 60.

Iran initially blamed Arab separatists for the attack in which gunmen disguised as soldiers opened fire on the crowd and officials watching the parade from a viewing platform. The Arab separatists, who have long complained of discrimination in Persian-majority Iran, claimed the attack and provided accurate details about one of the attackers.

The Islamic State group also claimed responsibility for the Ahvaz assault, but initially made factually incorrect claims about it. Later, IS released footage of several men that Iran ultimately identified as attackers, though the men in the footage are not known to have pledged allegiance to the extremist group.

In announcing the launch, Iranian state media said the missiles targeted both "takfiri" militants — a term it often applies to the Islamic State group — and Ahvazi separatists. The separatists have not been known to work with IS in the past.

Mohsen Rezaei, who formerly led the Guard, praised the missile strike on Twitter, adding that the "main punishment is on the way," suggesting more attacks could be imminent.

One missile shown on Iranian state television bore the slogans "Death to America, Death to Israel, Death to Al Saud."

The semi-official Fars news agency, believed to be close to the Guard, identified the six missiles used as Zolfaghar and Qiam variants, which have ranges of 750 kilometers (465 miles) and 800 kilometers (500 miles) respectively. Those missiles can reach Emirati and Saudi targets, as well as U.S. bases.

Regional tensions have been mounting since President Donald Trump pulled America out of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in May. The United Nations says Iran still honors the terms of the accord, in which it limited its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Iran's already weak economy has suffered since the American withdrawal, with its currency now trading at 170,000 rials to one U.S. dollar. In May, rate stood at around 62,000. A year ago, it was 39,000.

This is the third time in about a year that Iran has fired ballistic missiles beyond its borders.

Last year, Iran fired ballistic missiles into Syria over a bloody IS attack on Tehran targeting parliament and the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. In September, Iran fired missiles into Iraq targeting a base of an Iranian Kurdish separatist group. The separatists say that strike killed at least 15 people and wounded over 50.

"The Iranian missiles are a message to more than one side," said Talal Atrissi, a researcher in regional affairs at Beirut's Al Maaref University. "It is a message that when Iran threatens, it carries out its threats, and this is important for Iran. The second message is that the sanctions will not prevent Iran from defending itself."

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue and Fadi Tawil in Beirut contributed.</s>It's a huge development in an extremely volatile environment: overnight Sunday Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles toward Syria against targets east of the Euphrates river.

Footage released through official state channels show missiles launched by Iran from its Kermanshah region in western Iran towards Syria, targeting ISIS positions east of the Euphrates in revenge for the September 22 attack on a military parade in Ahvaz, which killed 25 and injured scores more.

However, the United States will no doubt interpret the action as highly provocative as the US Army maintains bases precisely in the broad region targeted east of the Euphrates in Syria.

In the early morning hours of Monday (local time) Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) published an official statement saying that its Aerospace Division targeted the "headquarters of the terrorists" east of the Euphrates in Syria.

A photo set showing a series of near simultaneous surface-to-surface launches was published alongside the statement.

Videos of the launch were uploaded and circulated widely in Middle East social media. Early unconfirmed reports and video suggest that a total of eight missiles were fired; however, at least two appear to have crashed shortly after launch.

"The headquarters of those responsible for the terrorist crime in Ahvaz was attacked a few minutes ago east of the Euphrates by several ballistic missiles fired by the aerospace branch of the Guardians of the Revolution," the IRGC said on their official Sepah website.

The launch comes soon after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the United States a “sponsor” of those that funded the terrorist attack on Avhaz in southwest Iran — one of the deadliest in Iran's recent history. The IRGC also vowed “a crushing and devastating response" during last Friday prayers in Tehran.

A second video of the launch has been released by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) official channels:

Washington has denied any involvement in the Avhaz attack, which was immediately claimed by both a local Avhaz separatist group and official ISIS media channels.

But Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in the aftermath that “US masters” and regional terrorist forces should be held accountable for the bloodshed.

Iran's top cleric and supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed the finger at the West, condemning what he labelled "plots hatched by US stooges in the region."

Hours after the highly provocative launch into Syria, it is unclear whether any among the missiles impacted inside Syria, and Syrian state sources have yet to issue a report or confirmation of the strike.

Iran's official English language PressTV claimed the following, however, citing the IRGC:

While there's yet to be any confirmation of these claims of casualties on the ground, video quickly surfaced purporting to show two of the locations where missiles crashed early after the launch.

At least one Iranian state TV report suggested the missiles flew over central Iraq near the city of Tikrit and landed in the vicinity of Abu Kamal, in southeast Syria.

Iranian state news sources promoted images and graphics purporting to show the flight path throughout the morning in a clear signal to regional enemies Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as the United States and Israel.</s>Iran's Revolutionary Guard launch missiles from an undisclosed location to target militants in eastern Syria early on Monday (AFP photo)

Iran said it fired missiles on Monday at Daesh militants in Syria it blames for an attack on its soil on September 22 and said the action shows the government's readiness to punish the "wickedness" of its enemies.

Tehran has accused US-backed Gulf Arab states of attacking a military parade in south-western Iran and killing 25 people, nearly half of them members of the elite Revolutionary guards.

Monday's strike targeted the bases of "takfiri terrorists" backed by Washington and regional powers in eastern Syria, the Guards said in a statement on Sepah News, their news site. It killed a number of militant leaders and destroyed their supplies and infrastructure, they said.

Iranian officials often use the word “takfiri” to describe Sunni Muslim hardliners. Iran is predominantly Shiite Muslim.

“Death to the family of Saud”, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” were written on one of the missiles shown on the Fars News site.

The strike targeted the last pocket of territory in south-eastern Syria held by Daesh, said an official in the Iran-backed regional alliance fighting in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

It is an area where the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a new offensive last month against Daesh.

The US-led coalition confirmed Iranian forces had conducted “no notice strikes last night”.

“At this time, the coalition is still assessing if any damage occurred and no coalition forces were in danger,” said the coalaition’s spokesman, Sean Ryan.

Fars News posted video footage of several missiles streaking into a dark sky during the attack.

The six ballistic missiles used in the attack flew 570km to hit the targets, the Guard said. A map shown on state TV pinpointed Kermanshah in western Iran as the launch site and Albu Kamal in southeast Syria as the target.

The missiles were Iranian-made Zolfaqar and Qiam missiles, Fars News reported.

“Our iron fist is prepared to deliver a decisive and crushing response to any wickedness and mischief of the enemies,” the Guard, the most powerful military force in the Islamic Republic, said.

Seven drones were also used to bomb militant targets during the attack, they said.

The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian ethnic Arab separatist movement, and Daesh have both claimed responsibility for the September 22 attack. Neither group has presented conclusive evidence to back up its claim.

“The terrorists used bullets and we gave them a reply with missiles,” Fars News quoted Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the Guard airspace division, as saying.

“The security of the Iranian people is our red line and we will not be found wanting.”

A senior Revolutionary guard commander said on Monday that Daesh militants in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province had helped coordinate the parade attack.

These Daesh militants were the target of the missile strike, said Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the armed forces chief of staff, according to Fars News.

“The area east of the Euphrates where Daesh is based is under the control of the American military and the Guards’ missiles hit an area that is close to the area under American control,” Baqeri said.

He added, “All of these are a warning for the enemies so they don’t move toward creating insecurity in Iran.”

Iranian military support has been vital to helping Assad through the Syrian war, and Iran-backed forces are deployed in south-eastern Syria on the west bank of the Euphrates River. Iran has dismissed US demands that it leave Syria.

The official in the Iran-backed alliance described Monday’s strike, targeting an area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, as a “limited message”. “One of the messages, to those it concerns, is that ‘our missiles are one of our powerful cards that are ready to respond whenever we want’,” the official said.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, has said the militants responsible for the September 22 attack were paid by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and that Iran would “severely punish” those behind the violence.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have denied involvement in the attack.

Mohsen Rezaie, a former commander of the guard, suggested in a Twitter message on Monday that more attacks were coming.

“The main punishment is on the way,” Rezaie, who is secretary of the Expediency Council, an unelected arbitration body that resolves disputes between parliament and a clerical vetting body, the Guardian Council, wrote.

Last year, the guard fired missiles at Daesh militants in Syria after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the parliament in Tehran and the mausoleum of the founder of Iran’s revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that left at least 18 people dead and dozens wounded.</s>Iran on Monday launched missile strikes on what it said were Sunni Islamic extremist hideouts in eastern Syria, a move it portrayed as retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack on an Iranian military parade last month.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said that it fired six medium-range missiles into Syria from bases in western Iran at 2 a.m. local time, striking east of the Euphrates River and killing and wounding several militants.

A statement on the Guard’s website described the targets as “takfiri terrorists,” a term it often uses to refer to the Islamic State.

The attack in Ahvaz last month saw several gunmen firing into crowds at a military parade. At least 24 people, including a 4-year-old child, were killed and more than 60 others wounded. Dramatic footage of the ambush showed bloodied victims lying on the ground.

Iran's leaders swore revenge for the assault, which they initially blamed on Arab separatists in the region. For years, the separatists have sought autonomy for the minority Arab population in Iran, which is mainly ethnic Persian. Iran has blamed Saudi Arabia for supporting the militants and encouraging attacks.

Both Ahvaz-based separatists and the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault, raising questions about the true identity of the perpetrators.

Iran state television Monday aired footage of what it said were medium-range missiles being fired from the Iranian province of Kermanshah. The Revolutionary Guard said the missiles hit their targets from a distance of roughly 350 miles. Those claims could not immediately be confirmed.

The Islamic State still holds pockets of territory in eastern Syria, where U.S. troops are assisting local forces to battle the militants.

Gunmen kill at least 2 dozen in attack on military parade in Iran

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Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Iran said it fired missiles on Monday at Islamic State militants in Syria it blames for an attack on its soil on Sept. 22 and said the action shows the government's readiness to punish the "wickedness" of its enemies.



Tehran has accused US-backed Gulf Arab states of attacking a military parade in southwestern Iran and killing 25 people, nearly half of them members of the elite Revolutionary Guards.Monday's strike targeted the bases of "takfiri terrorists" backed by Washington and regional powers in eastern Syria, the Guards said in a statement on Sepah News, their news site. It killed a number of militant leaders and destroyed their supplies and infrastructure, they said.Iranian officials often use the word "takfiri" to describe Sunni Muslim hardliners. Iran is predominantly Shi'ite Muslim.





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"Death to the family of Saud," "Death to America," and "Death to Israel" were written on one of the missiles shown on the Fars News site.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Monday night saying that “Iran's attempt to tie Israel to the terrorist attack in southern Iran is ridiculous.The fact that 'Death to Israel' was written on the missiles launched at Syria proves everything."The strike targeted the last pocket of territory in southeastern Syria held by Islamic State, said an official in the Iran-backed regional alliance fighting in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.It is an area where the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a new offensive last month against Islamic State.The US-led coalition confirmed Iranian forces had conducted "no notice strikes last night.""At this time, the coalition is still assessing if any damage occurred and no coalition forces were in danger," Col. spokesman Sean Ryan said.Fars News posted video footage of several missiles streaking into a dark sky during the attack.The six ballistic missiles used in the attack flew 570 km (354 miles) to hit the targets, the Guards said.A map shown on state TV pinpointed Kermanshah in western Iran as the launch site and Albu Kamal in southeast Syria as the target.The missiles were Iranian-made Zolfaqar and Qiam missiles, Fars News reported."Our iron fist is prepared to deliver a decisive and crushing response to any wickedness and mischief of the enemies," the Guards, the most powerful military force in the Islamic Republic, said.Seven drones were also used to bomb militant targets during the attack, they said.The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian ethnic Arab separatist movement, and the Islamic State have both claimed responsibility for the Sept. 22 attack.Neither group has presented conclusive evidence to back up its claim."The terrorists used bullets and we gave them a reply with missiles," Fars News quoted Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the Guards' airspace division, as saying."The security of the Iranian people is our red line and we will not be found wanting."A senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Monday that Islamic State militants in Syria's Deir al-Zor province had helped coordinate the parade attack.These Islamic State militants were the target of the missile strike, said Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the armed forces chief of staff, according to Fars News."The area east of the Euphrates where Islamic State is based is under the control of the American military and the Guards' missiles hit an area that is close to the area under American control," Baqeri said.He added, "All of these are a warning for the enemies so they don't move toward creating insecurity in Iran."Iranian military support has been vital to helping Assad through the Syrian war, and Iran-backed forces are deployed in southeastern Syria on the west bank of the Euphrates River. Iran has dismissed US demands that it leave Syria.The official in the Iran-backed alliance described Monday's strike, targeting an area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, as a "limited message.""One of the messages, to those it concerns, is that 'our missiles are one of our powerful cards that are ready to respond whenever we want'," the official said.Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, has said the militants responsible for the Sept 22 attack were paid by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and that Iran would "severely punish" those behind the violence.Saudi Arabia and the UAE have denied involvement in the attack.Mohsen Rezaie, a former commander of the Guards, suggested in a Twitter message on Monday that more attacks were coming."The main punishment is on the way," Rezaie, who is secretary of the Expediency Council, an unelected arbitration body that resolves disputes between parliament and a clerical vetting body, the Guardian Council, wrote.Last year, the Guards fired missiles at Islamic State militants in Syria after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the parliament in Tehran and the mausoleum of the founder of Iran’s revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that left at least 18 people dead and dozens wounded.Herb Keinon contributed to this reported.Herb Keinon contributed to this reported.

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Iran fires six ballistic missiles from its own territory at ISIL targets near the Euphrates river valley in eastern Syria, in response to the Ahvaz military parade attack.