Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 2 OcTOber 2018

Iran fires ballistic missiles at Syria militants over attack

By NASSSER KARIMI
JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard
launched six ballistic missiles
as well as drone bombers
early Monday toward east-
ern Syria, targeting militants
it blamed for an attack
on a military parade last
month while also threaten-
ing regional adversaries as
Tehran’s nuclear deal with
world powers unravels.
The missiles had enough
range to strike regional U.S.
military bases and targets
inside both Saudi Arabia
and the United Arab Emir-
ates.
Iran’s supreme leader has
called out the two Arab
nations by name, accus-
ing them of being behind
the Sept. 22 attack on the
parade in the Iranian city of
Ahvaz, something denied
by both Riyadh and Abu
Dhabi.
Monday’s strike was the
second missile attack by
Iran in a month’s time, In this photo released on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, missiles are fired from city of Kermanshah in
and came as tensions rise western Iran targeting the Islamic State group in Syria.
ahead of renewed U.S. Associated Press
sanctions targeting Teh- group that answers directly “The coalition is still assess- age are not known to have Regional tensions have
ran’s oil industry that will to the supreme leader, said ing if any damage oc- pledged allegiance to the been mounting since Presi-
take effect in early Novem- it followed the missiles with curred, and no coalition extremist group. dent Donald Trump pulled
ber. bombing runs by seven re- forces were in danger,” U.S. In announcing the launch, America out of Iran’s nu-
“This is the roaring of mis- motely piloted drones, a Army Col. Sean Ryan said. Iranian state media said clear deal with world pow-
siles belonging to the Rev- first for Iran. State TV aired IS militants did not immedi- the missiles targeted both ers in May. The United Na-
olutionary Guard of the Is- footage of a drone drop- ately acknowledge the at- “takfiri” militants — a term it tions says Iran still honors
lamic Revolution,” a state ping what appeared to be tack. often applies to the Islamic the terms of the accord,
TV reporter said as the mis- an unguided munition. The missile launch further State group — and Ahvazi in which it limited its en-
siles launched behind him. Boukamal is held by Syrian adds to confusion over separatists. The separatists richment of uranium in ex-
“In a few minutes, the world government forces, but IS who carried out the assault have not been known to change for the lifting of
of arrogance — especially still maintains a presence on a military parade, which work with IS in the past. economic sanctions.
America, the (Israeli) Zionist in the area, despite being killed at least 24 people Mohsen Rezaei, who for- Iran’s already weak econ-
regime and the Al Saud — driven from virtually all the and wounded over 60. merly led the Guard, omy has suffered since the
will hear the sound of Iran’s territory it once held in Syria Iran initially blamed Arab praised the missile strike American withdrawal, with
repeated blows.” Al Saud is and Iraq. separatists for the attack in on Twitter, adding that the its currency now trading
a reference to Saudi Ara- Rami Abdurrahman, who which gunmen disguised as “main punishment is on the at 170,000 rials to one U.S.
bia’s royal family. heads the Britain-based soldiers opened fire on the way,” suggesting more at- dollar. In May, rate stood at
Iranian state TV and the Syrian Observatory for Hu- crowd and officials watch- tacks could be imminent. around 62,000. A year ago,
state-run IRNA news agen- man Rights, told The Associ- ing the parade from a One missile shown on Irani- it was 39,000.
cy said the missiles “killed ated Press that the Iranian viewing platform. The Arab an state television bore the This is the third time in about
and wounded” militants in missiles hit the IS-held town separatists, who have long slogans “Death to America, a year that Iran has fired
Syria, without elaborating. of Hajin, just north of Bouka- complained of discrimina- Death to Israel, Death to Al ballistic missiles beyond its
The missiles, launched from mal. tion in Persian-majority Iran, Saud.” borders. Last year, Iran fired
western Iran, flew over Iraq Strong explosions shook claimed the attack and The semi-official Fars news ballistic missiles into Syria
and landed near the city of the area early Monday, re- provided accurate details agency, believed to be over a bloody IS attack
Boukamal in the far south- verberating east of the Eu- about one of the attackers. close to the Guard, identi- on Tehran targeting parlia-
east of Syria, they reported. phrates River, he said. U.S.- The Islamic State group also fied the six missiles used as ment and the shrine of Aya-
“Terrorists used bullets in Ah- allied Kurdish fighters have claimed responsibility for Zolfaghar and Qiam vari- tollah Ruhollah Khomeini. In
vaz,” Gen. Amir Ali Hajiza- been battling IS in and the Ahvaz assault, but ini- ants, which have ranges of September, Iran fired mis-
deh, chief of the Guard’s around Hajin for weeks. tially made factually incor- 750 kilometers (465 miles) siles into Iraq targeting a
aerospace division, told the The U.S. military’s Central rect claims about it. Later, and 800 kilometers (500 base of an Iranian Kurdish
semi-official Tasnim news Command acknowledged IS released footage of sev- miles) respectively. Those separatist group. The sepa-
agency. “We answered that Iranian forces con- eral men that Iran ultimate- missiles can reach Emirati ratists say that strike killed
them with missiles.” ducted “no-notice strikes” ly identified as attackers, and Saudi targets, as well at least 15 people and
The Guard, a paramilitary in the area. though the men in the foot- as U.S. bases. wounded over 50.q