Defense News , Middle East :-
In recent developments in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a
series of strikes have intensified concerns about the widening
hostilities that originated from the conflict between Israel and the
Palestinian group Hamas. The conflict, which began on October 7, has
seen involvement from Iran's allies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Iran's
Revolutionary Guards announced on Monday that they targeted what they
referred to as the "Spy Headquarters" of Israel in Iraq's Kurdistan
region. Simultaneously, the elite force reported striking against the
Islamic State in Syria. This comes in response to what Iran perceives as
recent atrocities committed by the Zionist regime, resulting in the
deaths of Guards commanders and members of the Axis of Resistance.
The
Guards stated in a released statement, "In response to the recent
atrocities of the Zionist regime, causing the killing of commanders of
the Guards and the Axis of Resistance, one of the main Mossad espionage
headquarters in Iraq's Kurdistan region was destroyed with ballistic
missiles."
Iran had vowed retaliation for the deaths of three
Guards members in Syria last month, including a senior commander who
served as a military adviser. The conflict, triggered by Hamas'
incursion into Israeli territory on October 7 and subsequent Israeli
bombing campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, has claimed over 130 fighters
from Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The Guards' statement
emphasized a commitment to continuing offensive operations until
avenging the last drops of martyrs' blood. The recent strikes targeted a
residential area near the U.S. consulate in Kurdistan's capital, Erbil,
resulting in civilian casualties. The Kurdistan government's security
council labeled the attack as a "crime."
Iraqi Kurdish Prime
Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the assault on Erbil, stating it was a
"crime against the Kurdish people." Multiple civilians, including
prominent businessman Peshraw Dizayee and his family, lost their lives
in the attack.
The conflict has also spilled over into Syria,
where the Guards claim to have destroyed the perpetrators of terrorist
operations, including the Islamic State. The recent bombings in Iran's
southeastern city of Kerman, claimed by the Islamic State, further
heightened tensions in the region.
Amid accusations of U.S.
support for Israeli actions, Iran alleges that the United States is
endorsing what it terms as Israeli crimes in Gaza. The U.S., while
backing Israel, has expressed concerns about the civilian casualties in
Palestine.
The attack on Erbil led to the suspension of air
traffic at the city's airport. Iran has previously conducted strikes in
Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, citing its use as a staging ground for
Iranian separatist groups and alleged agents of Israel. Efforts by
Baghdad to address Iranian concerns regarding separatist groups in the
border region have been underway since a security agreement was reached
in 2023.
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