Pakistan responds to Tehran's attacks and bombs Iran. Islamabad speaks of targeted raids against terrorists, local media report 9 deaths, including 4 children and 3 women, in Saravan, in the south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan.
“We have conducted attacks against anti-Pakistan militant groups inside Iran,” an Islamabad intelligence source confirmed, adding that the Pakistani government will release a statement on the matter later today. Two days ago Iran carried out attacks on Pakistani territory against what it called "terrorist targets".
This morning's raids were "highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military attacks against terrorist hideouts," the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, quoted by local media. “This morning's action was taken in light of credible information regarding imminent large-scale terrorist activities by the so-called Sarmachars,” the Islamabad ministry said in a statement.
Tehran's attack in Pakistan in recent days, Iran had explained, was a "raid against an Iranian terrorist group which caused no civilian casualties". Islamabad had called it "unacceptable" and had recalled its ambassador. Now the answer has arrived: a raid in Iran, also against "terrorist targets".
China, for its part, urges caution and says it is willing to play a "mediation role" between the two countries.
This morning there was also a new US attack in Yemen, against Houthi missile launch pads. The rebels supported by Tehran, however, do not give up, and assure that they will continue to strike ships in the Red Sea.
(Unioneonline/L)