2LT International News

WASHINGTON, U.S. – Fuming over Iran’s firing of ballistic missiles targeting Syrian militants on Monday, the Pentagon issued an angry statement claiming the missiles put coalition troops at risk. 

On Monday, Iran launched ballistic missiles, with its the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claiming that its missiles had targeted militants that launched an attack on its recent military parade.

Iran’s annual military parade held last month to mark the start of the Islamic Republic’s 1980-88 war with Iraq, was targeted by a group of gunmen, who killed 25 people and left over 70 others injured in Ahvaz.

It was the deadliest attack against Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp in several years.

The attack was claimed by both, Islamic State (ISIS) and an Ahvaz-based ethnic Arab opposition movement called the ‘Patriotic Arab Democratic Movement’ or the ‘Ahvaz National Resistance.’

Iran has, however, blamed its most powerful foes, the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia for the attack.

Following the attack, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif blamed regional countries and their “U.S. masters” for funding and arming the separatists who led the Ahvaz attack.

Meanwhile, on Monday, following the missile launch, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said “terrorists” targeted in Syria are supported by U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Further, the state TV broadcast footage showing a missile, which bore the phrase “Death to America, Death to Israel, Death to Al Saud (Saudi Arabia’s ruling family).”

In addition, as a missile roared into the night sky in the background, an Iranian state TV reporter said, “In a few minutes, the world of arrogance — especially America, the Zionist regime and the Al Saud — will hear the sound of Iran’s repeated blows.”

According to reports, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had launched six ballistic missiles and drone bombers on Monday. 

The Guard confirmed later that for the first time ever, it followed the missiles with bombing runs by seven remotely piloted drones.

Further, reports noted that the missiles had enough range to strike regional U.S. military bases and targets inside both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The strike on Monday was the second missile attack by Iran in a month.

In its report, the Iranian state TV and the state-run IRNA news agency said that the missiles “killed and wounded” militants in Syria.

The report noted that the missiles were launched from western Iran and flew over Iraq, landing near the city of Boukamal in the far southeast of Syria.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, chief of the Guard’s aerospace division as declaring, “Terrorists used bullets in Ahvaz. We answered them with missiles.”

Meanwhile, irked at the missiles, Pentagon issued a statement saying Iran’s move put coalition troops at risk.

A Pentagon official said that Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles targeting Syrian militants – an attack that potentially put coalition forces at risk.

The official pointed out that an Iranian missile hit an area where U.S. troops and Syrian Democratic Forces are clearing remnants of Islamic State forces.