Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes in Iran
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Pakistan carried out airstrikes early Thursday inside Iranian territory, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, killing Pakistani militants there.
The action was taken in retaliation for an Iranian airstrike inside Pakistan on Tuesday, which had targeted Iranian insurgents.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the bombardment as “precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s bordering province of Sistan-Baluchistan. It said that a large number of terrorists were killed in the operation.
Tehran had said its strike targeted Iranian jihadists present in Pakistan. Iran also hit sites in Syria and Iraq on Monday, as it flexed its regional muscles.
Tehran is trying to show strength as it is in an indirect confrontation with the U.S. and Israel in the wake of Israel’s war in Gaza, experts say.
Both Islamabad and Tehran have long accused each other of harboring militants. The Pakistani airstrike was against Pakistani separatists it said were present inside Iran.
“This action is a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats,” said a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
There was no immediate comment from Iran.
Write to Saeed Shah at [email protected]