Iran fires missiles at militants in Syria over parade attack
Updated 12:36, 04-Oct-2018
CGTN
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Iran has fired missiles at militants in Syria that the country blamed for an attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran on September 22, the Revolutionary Guards said on Monday in a statement published on Sepah News, the Guards' official news site.
The attack took place at 2 a.m. local time and targeted the bases of "takfiri terrorists" as backed by America and regional powers in eastern Syria, the Guards said in a statement.
Iranian officials often use the word "takfiri" to describe Sunni Muslim hardliners. Iran is predominantly Shi'ite Muslim.
The ballistic missiles used in the attack flew 570 km (354 miles) to hit the targets, the Guards said.
"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.
Iran fires missiles at militants in Syria on October 01, 2018. /VCG Photo

Iran fires missiles at militants in Syria on October 01, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian ethnic Arab separatist movement, and ISIL 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 military force in the Islamic Republic, said in the statement that 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.
Missile launching platform is seen during the military parade held in Tehran, Iran on September 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

Missile launching platform is seen during the military parade held in Tehran, Iran on September 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

Twelve members of the Revolutionary Guards were among those killed in the attack on September 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.
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.
(Cover photo: Missiles are launched by Iran in Syria, October 01, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Reuters