Iran has fired missiles at militants in Syria it blamed for an attack at a military parade in Iran two weeks ago, the Revolutionary Guards says in a statement published on Sepah News, the Guards' official news site.
Missiles being launched from an undisclosed location to target militants in eastern Syria early on 1 October, 2018. Photo: AFP/ Iran's Revolutionary Guard official website and SEPAH News
The attack targeted the bases of "takfiri terrorists" backed by America and regional powers in Syria, the Guards said in a statement.
Iranian officials often use the word "takfiri" to describe Sunni Muslim hardliners. Iran is predominantly Shi'ite Muslim.
The ballistic missiles used in the attack flew 570 km to hit the targets, the Guards said.
"Our iron fist is prepared to deliver a decisive and crushing response to any wickedness and mischief of the enemies," the Guards said in the statement.
The Ahvaz National Resistance, an Iranian ethnic Arab separatist movement, and the Islamic State have both claimed responsibility for the attack in which 25 people were killed.
Neither group has presented conclusive evidence to back up their claim.
The Revolutionary Guards, the most powerful military force in the Islamic Republic, said in the statement six missiles were fired into Syria from western Iran.
Seven drones were also used to bomb militant targets during the attack, which killed a number of militant leaders and destroyed supplies and infrastructure used by the group, the Guards said.
Twelve Guards were among those killed in the attack on 22 September, when gunmen fired on a viewing stand as military officials watched a ceremony in Ahvaz, marking the start of Iran's 1980-1988 war with Iraq.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, said last week that the militants responsible were paid by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and that Iran would "severely punish" those behind the violence.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have denied involvement in the attack.
Fars News posted video footage of several missiles streaking into a dark sky during the attack.
Last year, the Guards fired missiles at Islamic State militants in Syria after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the parliament in Tehran and the mausoleum of the founder of Iran's revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that left at least 18 people dead and dozens wounded.
-Reuters
