Pakistan Targets Seven Locations Inside Iran, Killing Seven
Pakistan has targeted seven locations inside Iran, leading to a deadly incident that has escalated tensions between the two neighboring powers. The incident has raised concerns about regional security and stability amidst ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
Escalating Tensions: Pakistan's Strikes Inside Iran
Pakistan has targeted seven locations inside Iran, a Pakistan security official told CNN Thursday, in the latest incident across their shared border. This has resulted in a significant escalation of tensions between the two neighboring countries. The incident has led to a series of explosions inside southwestern Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, causing the death of at least seven people. The province’s deputy governor Alireza Marhamati confirmed that the casualties included three women and four children, who were foreign citizens. The deputy governor also reported that several missiles were fired at a border village, resulting in casualties, and another explosion took place near the city of Saravan, causing no casualties. Iranian state media has reported explosions around Saravan as a Pakistani security official confirmed the strikes carried out by Pakistan.
Iranian missile systems are seen during an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ground forces military drill in the Aras area, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, October 17, 2022. IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Diplomatic Fallout and Regional Implications
The missile launch by Pakistan comes in the wake of Iran's precision missile and drone strikes on strongholds of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province. These strikes by Iran had resulted in casualties and led to a diplomatic spat between the two countries. Pakistan condemned the Iranian attack, describing it as an 'unprovoked violation of its airspace' and warning of serious consequences. The diplomatic fallout has seen Pakistan recalling its ambassador from Iran and suspending all Iranian high-level visits, emphasizing the serious nature of the escalating tensions. The incident has significant regional implications as both countries have long fought militants in the restive Baloch region along their shared border, and the latest escalation raises concerns about the security and stability of the region amidst ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
Regional Hostilities and Escalating Conflicts
The escalating conflicts between Iran and Pakistan are part of wider regional hostilities in the Middle East, particularly amidst Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. The recent incidents, including Pakistan’s strikes inside Iran and Iran's precision missile and drone strikes in Pakistan, reflect the mounting tensions and confrontations across the region. These hostilities have also involved attacks by Iranian proxies on Israeli forces and its allies, as well as retaliatory strikes by Iran in Iraq and Syria. The situation has further intensified with Hezbollah's confrontations with Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border, adding to the complexity of regional security dynamics. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has emphasized that the attacks by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East will continue until Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza ends, highlighting the interconnected nature of regional conflicts and their potential to spiral into wider conflict. The evolving dynamics of regional hostilities and escalating conflicts pose significant challenges to regional stability and security, with implications for neighboring countries and international actors.
