Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched ballistic missiles targeting what they claim were Israeli "spy centers" in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region.
At the same time, the IRGC said it also launched missiles against Islamic State targets in northern Syria. The IRGC claimed in a statement that these missile strikes are acts of self-defense.
The missiles that struck northern Iraq targeted supposed Israeli spy centers in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, causing witnesses to see and hear at least eight different explosions in the city of 1.5 million people.
The region's security council reported four deaths and six injuries caused by the blast, and the Kurdistan Regional Government said that it even shot down three attack drones that were targeting a United States-led coalition base in the city, leading to air traffic diversions in the city's international airport. (Related: Iran has developed a new, high-tech combat drone for Russia to use in Ukraine.)
In its statement, the IRGC claims it fired 11 missiles against Israeli "espionage centers" and "anti-Iranian terrorist groups" in Erbil and northern Syria. The Israeli centers were allegedly operated by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. However, the Israeli government has not officially commented on the incident.
The Iraqi government condemned the missile attacks, describing them as Iranian "aggression" that led to civilian casualties in residential areas.
Iraq deemed it a violation of its sovereignty and the security of its people. The government announced plans to consider various actions, including filing a complaint at the United Nations Security Council.
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Israel's military offensive in Gaza causing a wider regional conflict
The attacks come amid heightened concerns about Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip causing a wider regional conflict. Since the Gaza conflict began in October, the U.S. and allied forces have faced numerous attacks in Iraq and Syria, attributed to Iran-affiliated armed groups.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, emphasized that Tehran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries but argued that Iran was using its "legitimate and legal right to deter national security threats."
Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Iran’s charge d'affaires in Baghdad over the attacks. U.S. officials reported that the attacks did not affect any U.S. facilities and there were no American casualties. The U.S. also called the missiles "imprecise."
Meanwhile, Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani strongly denounced the attack on Erbil as a "crime against the Kurdish people."
The Kurdistan Region Security Council reported that among the four civilian casualties was Kurdish businessman and multimillionaire Peshraw Dizayee and several members of his family, who were killed when one of the missiles struck their home.
Dizayee, known for his proximity to the prime minister and the ruling Barzani clan, was heavily involved in businesses involving major real estate projects in the Kurdistan Region.
Another missile hit the residence of a senior Kurdish intelligence official, and another struck a Kurdish intelligence center near the Erbil International Airport, halting air traffic.
More stories like this can be found at Terrorism.news.
Watch this clip of the aftermath of Iranian strikes on Erbil.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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