Iran Launches Missile Attacks on Targets in Iraq and Syria

The entrance of Erbil International Airport in the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region Erbil on Dec. 24, 2019. Safin Hamed/AFP via Getty Images

Iran has launched missile attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria in a major escalation of hostilities in the region.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for the Jan. 15 attack, saying that it had targeted a spy facility.

“Ballistic missiles were used to destroy espionage centers and gatherings of anti-Iranian terrorist groups in the region late tonight,” the IRGC said according to Iranian state media.

The message did not clarify whether the attack was made on Israeli or American facilities, but the explosions occurred near the U.S. consulate and civilian residences about 25 miles from Erbil.

“We have seen the reports, and we tracked the missiles, which impacted in northern Iraq and northern Syria,“ said National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Adrienne Watson in a statement. ”No U.S. personnel or facilities were targeted.

“We have been in touch with senior Iraqi officials as well as officials in the Kurdistan Region. Iran is claiming this is in response to the terrorist attacks in Kerman, Iran and Rask, Iran, with a focus on ISIS. We will continue to assess the situation, but initial indications are that this was a reckless and imprecise set of strikes. The United States supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Iraq.”

No U.S. facilities were damaged and no injuries were reported at the consulate.

Iran Launches Attacks Throughout Middle East

Regardless of the target, the attack is an escalation both in scope and due to the fact that the IRGC has claimed responsibility directly.

While the IRGC has targeted the region at times in the past, its actions there are typically made through proxy militia groups. Such groups have struck the bases of U.S. and Coalition forces in Iraq and Syria with drones and missiles on more than 100 occasions since Oct. 17.

Though the militias say that they are attacking in support of Hamas in Gaza, experts widely believe that the effort is intended to widen the war in Gaza throughout the region in order to undermine Israel and the United States.

The attack also follows several high profile U.S. air strikes against Iran-backed Houthi elements in Yemen. The Houthis, with operational support from Iran, have conducted a months-long campaign of terror against shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the U.S. air strikes on Yemen.

Last week, the Islamist regime in Tehran also seized an oil tanker bound for Turkey.

The Marshall Islands-flagged St. Nikolas, which was previously called the Suez Rajan, was seized last year by the United States for illegally transporting oil for Iran.

At the time, Iranian leadership vowed revenge against the United States for the incident. A pledge that Tehran says it has now fulfilled.

“After the theft of Iranian oil by the United States last year, St. Nikolas tanker was seized by Iran’s Navy this morning with a judicial order ... it is en route to Iranian ports,” the semi-official Fars news agency said.

U.S. officials confirmed there were no casualties or any damage at U.S. facilities or the consulate.

“The United States strongly condemns Iran’s attacks in Erbil today and offers condolences to the families of those who were killed,” said U.S. Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller. “We oppose Iran’s reckless missile strikes, which undermine Iraq’s stability.

“We support the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s efforts to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people.”

Emel Akan and Reuters contributed to this report