Iran responds to Soleimani memorial attack… Airstrikes on bases in Pakistan attributed to IS
Pakistan fights back… Refrain from further conflict
Iran increases intervention in various parts of the Middle East… Interpretation of the conflict between Shia Islam and Sunni Islam
Pakistan, a country in Southwest Asia that shares a border of about 900km with Iran, was enraged by Iran’s airstrikes on its territory two days ago and retaliated. The military conflict between the two countries took place while the flames of the Middle East war, which arose from an attack on Israel by the Palestinian armed group Hamas in October last year, still lingered. As Pakistan, an unofficial nuclear state, exchanges airstrikes with Iran, which is pursuing the development of nuclear weapons, tensions are growing not only in the Middle East but also in Southwest Asia.
After the outbreak of the Middle East war, Iran, the ‘Shiite leader’, exercised its influence against Israel and the West by using a kind of ‘proxy army’ such as the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and the Yemeni rebel Houthis. However, as the war exceeded 100 days and it seemed as if regional hegemony was being challenged, including bombings in mainland Iran, the country took direct military action this week. On the 15th, they bombed the Syrian stronghold of the Sunni extremist armed group ‘Islamic State (IS)’, and on the following day, they bombed the base of the Sunni militant group ‘Jay Sial-Adl’ in Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan.
According to CNN and AFP, Pakistan conducted an airstrike on the Sistan-Baluchistan region in southeastern Iran around 4:30 a.m. on the 18th. According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, at least nine people, including three women, four children and two men, were killed in the attack. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that it was an “air strike for national interests and security” and that it was “due to Iran’s lack of proper control over the region in recent years.”
The attack on this day was related to the bombing that occurred near the memorial site of former Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran, on the 3rd. At the time, 80 people were killed, and IS claimed responsibility. The Iranian people were angry when a terrorist attack that occurred at the funeral of a ‘national hero’ resulted in large-scale casualties. The Iranian authorities also emphasized their intention to ‘eradicate not only Sunni extreme forces, but also Israel and the West.’
Accordingly, Iran attacked IS and Jaish al-Adl bases for two consecutive days. Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said on the 17th, “We are the world’s missile power,” and warned, “We will respond wherever they attempt to threaten Iran.” However, immediately after the attack on the 18th, Pakistan appeared to refrain from further clashes, saying, “We respect Iran’s sovereignty.”
It is noteworthy that Iran, which has supported Hamas since the outbreak of the Middle East war but has been reluctant to intervene directly, has recently been increasing its intervention throughout the Middle East. On the 15th, Iran carried out an airstrike on northern Erbil, where both the US military base in Iraq and the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad base are located. Iranian state media Press TV reported on the 18th that it was confirmed that at least five people, including a veteran Mossad agent, were killed in this attack.
The New York Times (NYT) interpreted Iran’s military action as a kind of ‘showy attack’. Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials familiar with Iran’s attack on Pakistan told the NYT, “It was an airstrike aimed at reassuring conservatives in Iran and friendly forces in the Middle East and sending a warning message to Israel, the United States, and terrorist groups that ‘Iran will counterattack if attacked.’ “He said. As Iran’s security vulnerabilities have been revealed due to recent bombings in Iran, there are calls for a strong response from both inside and outside the country.
Even if the nature of the ‘show of force’ is strong, it is clear that Iran has taken direct action, causing the entire Middle East to be engulfed in turbulence, creating an imminent situation. Israel is also expected to retaliate in some way due to Iran’s assassination of a Mossad member. In particular, there is a possibility that Israel may go to war with Hezbollah. According to the Times of Israel, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzy Halevi mentioned the possibility of an expansion of the front line on the 17th, saying, “We are expanding our combat readiness in Lebanon.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.