Iran carried out missile and drone attacks in Pakistan on Tuesday evening. According to Pakistani authorities, two children were killed and two women and a teenage girl were injured. International news agencies report this. According to Iranian state media, the attacks were carried out by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and targeted bases of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl. Pakistan calls the action “completely unacceptable” and warns of repercussions.
The attack took place in the Balochistan province of southwestern Pakistan. Six drones and missiles struck houses there that the militant group claims house children and wives of fighters.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also attacked targets in Iraq and Syria. These would include retaliatory attacks on the Islamic State, which claimed a double suicide bombing in the Iranian city of Kerman at the beginning of this month. At least ninety people were killed. In Iraq, an Israeli secret service spy center was targeted.
Troubled border area
Jaish al-Adl, also known as the Army of Justice, is a Sunni group founded in 2012 that operates largely on the Iran-Pakistan border. Jaish al-Adl has previously claimed attacks on Iranian soil and kidnapped Iranian border police. Iran therefore speaks of an anti-Iranian terrorist group. Iran has previously fought the militants in border areas, but a rocket and drone attack on Pakistan like Tuesday evening is unprecedented, the AP reports.
Pakistan described Tuesday’s attack as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace. The violation “could have serious consequences,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday morning, according to AP. “Pakistan has always said that terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not consistent with good neighborly relations.” Pakistan says it has lodged a protest with Tehran.