First in 30 Years:

Iranian Missiles Hit ISIL in Syria to Avenge Terror Attacks

Rasa - Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps launched multiple missile strikes at ISIL centers in Syria's Deir Ezzur in retaliation for the June 7 twin terrorist attacks in Tehran.

News ID: 430476

Date: 20 June 2017 - 23:29

RNA - The IRGC said in a statement on Sunday, June 18: “The Takfiri terrorists' command center, concentration points and logistical centers used for assembling cars for suicide attacks in Deir Ezzur region in Eastern Syria came under attack by the IRGC moments ago in a move to punish the terrorists for the twin attacks on the Iranian parliament and the holy shrine of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, on June 7.”

The statement issued by the IRGC Public Relations Office further said: "A number of mid-range ground-to-ground missiles fired from the IRGC Aerospace Force bases in Kermanshah and Kurdistan provinces targeted the Takfiri terrorists in this operation and struck them with lethal and crushing blows. A large number of Takfiri terrorists have been killed and their equipment, systems and weapons have been destroyed in the operation.”

As maintained by the IRGC, the Sunday operation was just a warning:

1) The launch of the medium-range missiles is direct retaliation for ISIL terror attacks in Tehran. It makes clear how seriously the country views those attacks and what’s yet to come if it comes under attack once again either by terrorists or their supporters.

2) This is likely to bring new attention to Iran’s development of conventional missiles, but paranoid US officials can no longer voice concerns or use it as a justification for further illegal sanctions. That Iran’s only use of these missiles in the past several decades was against ISIL, and the previous use was in defending the country from an Iraqi invasion, reflects that Iran’s missile program has indeed been largely defensive in nature AND above-board.

3) For all the news coverage, Iran will also continue to send its domestically-made satellites into orbit, demonstrating yet again that when it comes to its National Space Program the sky is no longer the limit. Despite the rocketry claims and the dominant narrative in the West, Iran is not using its missile program as a cover to develop long-range ballistic missile technology. It had that technology long before the Sunday missile strikes into Syria. Under International Law, nothing prevents Iran from developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of hitting terrorists or delivering satellites.

4) The defensive nature of Iran’s military capabilities points to the fact that it does not seek military roles beyond its means. The country simply pursues military deterrence against terrorists, which are located within the striking distance of its various missiles - as well as against those paranoid powers with military bases in the Persian Gulf.

5) As maintained by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Aerospace Force, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the missile program is non-negotiable. Washington’s insistence that ballistic missiles should become a subject of negotiations is a testimony to the country’s superb capabilities in that sphere.

6) The Trump White House is right to say the same technology that targets terrorists or puts satellites into orbit can deliver nuclear warheads. The problem is Iran does not have nuclear warheads or a nuclear weapons program and it has never designed missiles for carrying WMD payloads. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the American spy agencies have all made that clear in numerous reports.

7) Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Under the UN mandate, and just like its missile defense program, Iran is entitled to master the technology of launching satellites into orbit. American concerns are not going to stop its upward mobility into outer space.

More importantly, Iran has offered to share its home-grown science in all such areas as nuclear, missile, NANO, stem cell and space fields, with all Muslim and friendly states despite all the other few states that have mastered these technologies and use every means within their possiblities to maintain their monopoly in each and every one of these sectors.

To the surprise of all those cynical observers, many independent sources, including Western intelligence agencies, continue to verify the success of Iran’s missiles targeting terrorist sites deep inside the Syrian territory.

Notwithstanding the unwarranted paranoia, the technological and military powerhouse in the region has directly targeted terrorist groups and plans to continue doing so in its Real War on Terror in the coming weeks and months.

Nor is that all:

- The people of Iran, their Leader and officials will continue to support the missile defense program come what may. Repeat, Iran will continue to increase, develop, and upgrade its deterrence power and capabilities.

- Iran will continue to enhance military capabilities to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Neither the nuclear deal nor the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 prohibit Iran from missiles not designed for nuclear warheads.

- The United Nations members confirm that Iran's missile launches do not violate the nuclear deal and Resolution 2231. The country will multiply its missiles and there will be more missiles targeting terrorists in future - irrespective of Washington's excessive demands and threats. Why should Iran or any other state risk their national security and let the terrorists go unpunished after killing 18 of its citizens in its capital just because Washington doesn't like?!

- Tehran will continue to support the Iraqi and Syrian governments, as well as the Hezbollah movement, the Palestinian and Yemeni nations. Tehran will never allow the disintegration of its allies as envisaged by the US and allies under the Joe Biden Plan.

- Missile launches are Iran’s inalienable right to defend its security and interests against terrorists, a right enshrined for all states, and no other country can have any say in this regard, specially those who have devastated Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Libya, refuse to take any refugees from these unfortunate countries, have deployed thousands of troops to the region as part of a massive military buildup, have positioned missile systems in Europe under the pretext of stopping Iran’s nuclear threat which doesn’t exist, and have soldiers and aircraft rolled into Syria in support of their terror proxies.

In summation, under International Law and UN Charter, the program is defensible, legal and non-negotiable.

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