Iran’s FM at Davos: Jaish al-Adl militant group attacked in Pakistan, not civilians

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, claimed that the target of Iranian strikes in Pakistan was the Jaish al-Adl militant group.

In the first acknowledgment by a senior Iranian government official, the top diplomat claimed that “no civilians” were targeted in the missile and drone strikes carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday.

He insisted that only “terrorists” were hit in the attack that was strongly condemned by the Pakistani government, and has since sparked massive outcry in the South Asian country bordering Iran. Islamabad has recalled its ambassador from Iran and suspended all high-level contacts over the "unprovoked" attack and "violation" of its sovereignty.

On Tuesday, sections of Iranian media reported that at least two “important headquarters” of the militant group were targeted and destroyed by drones and missiles in the Koh e Sabz area of Balochistan.

The attack is said to have been carried out in retaliation for the December attack on a police station in the city of Rask in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, which killed 11 policemen.

Amir-Abdollahian said he assured Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar during their meeting on the sidelines of the Davos summit on Tuesday that Iran “respects Pakistan's territorial sovereignty.”

He also commented on Monday night’s missile strike by the IRGC on northern Iraq, claiming that the target was the Israeli spy agency Mossad’s cell in the region.

He stressed Tehran “respects the territorial integrity of Iraq” added that it had “shared intelligence with Iraq about Mossad activities” in northern Iraq.

The IRGC had announced its ballistic missile strike on what it claimed was a Mossad site in Erbil. At the same time, it said it conducted missile strikes on “terrorist gatherings” in Syria’s Idlib, arguing that both attacks were in retaliation for attacks in the Iranian cities of Kerman and Rask.

Amir-Abdollahian, speaking at Davos, also answered questions on the ongoing war on Gaza, saying Iran does not consider Hamas a “terrorist group” but a “liberation movement against the (Israeli) occupation.”

He said the US has made a mistake by “supporting the genocide and ethnic cleansing” in Gaza while slamming Tel Aviv for “ignoring all UN resolutions adopted in support of Palestinians' rights.”

On the developments in the Red Sea, where Iran-allied Houthis have in recent weeks attacked many ships heading to Israel, which saw the US and UK responding with attacks on Yemen last week, Iran’s foreign minister said the security of the Red Sea is linked to what is happening in Gaza.

He hastened to add that Iran has information about Yemen and Saudi Arabia inching closer to a peace deal and restoration of relations.