Iran Fires Missiles into Syria: Retaliation for Ahvaz Attack & In Advance of New US Sanctions

It seems to me the 6 missiles serve two purposes- Retaliation and Defiance in the face of new, absurd, US sanctions. Which should increase the cost of gas for us- As if it's not expensive enough?CNBC - September 30/18

Brent crude oil prices rose to their highest since November 2014 on Monday ahead of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the third-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), that kick in next month. (Assuming, next month is today October 01/18?)

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Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched six ballistic missiles early Monday toward eastern Syria, targeting militants it blamed for an attack on a military parade in Iran last month while also threatening regional adversaries as Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers unravels.The strike on Monday marked the second-such attack by Iran in a month’s time and highlighted the greater tension felt across the Mideast as U.S. sanctions targeting Tehran’s oil industry will take effect in early November.“This is the roaring of missiles belonging to the Revolutionary Guard of the Islamic Revolution,” the state TV’s reporter said as the missiles launched behind him. “In a few minutes, the world of arrogance — especially America, the (Israeli) Zionist regime and the Al Saud — will hear the sound of Iran’s repeated blows.” Al Saud is a reference to Saudi Arabia’s royal family.

Iranian TV identified the area from where the missiles were launched as in Iran’s western province of Kermanshah. It also aired a graphic, suggesting the missiles flew over central Iraq near the city of Tikrit before landing near the city of Boukamal in the far southeast of Syria.

Ahvaz- location of Military Parade attack

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told The Associated Press that the Iranian missiles hit the IS-held town of Hajin, just north of Boukamal.

Strong explosions shook the area in the early hours of Monday, reverberating east of the Euphrates River, he said. The area of Hajin and IS militants there have been under attack for weeks by U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters. The U.S. military’s Central Command, which is aiding Kurdish forces, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Missile Launch from Iran

SputnikDW

"The headquarters of those responsible for the terrorist crime in Ahvaz was attacked a few minutes ago east of the Euphrates by several ballistic missiles fired by the aerospace branch of the Revolutionary Guard," the Guard said in a statement. They said the attack was carried out at 2 a.m. local time (2230 UTC) and that the missiles used flew 570 km (354 miles) to their targets.

BasNews

The attack, which took place at 02:00 am local time, targeted the positions belonging to “takfiri terrorists”, a term Iran often uses to refer to Sunni Muslim hardliners.The ballistic missiles used in the attack flew 570 km (354 miles) to hit the targets, the IRGC’s statement said.