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Pakistan launches strikes into Iran two days after missile strike Pakistan launches strikes into Iran two days after missile strike
(32 minutes later)
Security has intensified in Pakistan's Balochistan province following an Iranian missile strike at the borderSecurity has intensified in Pakistan's Balochistan province following an Iranian missile strike at the border
Pakistan says its has launched missile strikes into neighbouring Iran, two days after an Iranian attack inflamed relations between the two states. Pakistan has launched retaliatory missile strikes into neighbouring Iran, two days after an Iranian attack inflamed relations between the two states.
Pakistan said the attacks had struck "terrorist hideouts" in the bordering Sistan-o-Balochistan province. Pakistan said its strikes had hit "terrorist hideouts" in the bordering Sistan-o-Balochistan province.
Iranian media reported that three women and four children had been killed.Iranian media reported that three women and four children had been killed.
The two have long accused each other of harbouring militant groups that carry out attacks in their border regions. Pakistan's hit comes after it was outraged by Iran's strike, which Tehran said was aimed at terrorist groups.
On Wednesday evening, Iranian media reported that several explosions were heard near the border with Pakistan, around the city of Saravan. Both countries have long accused each other of harbouring militant groups that carry out attacks from regions along their shared border.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the strikes in a statement, and said that "a number of terrorists were killed during the Intelligence-based operation". But official military action between Pakistan and Iran on this issue is uncommon, and they typically maintain cordial, although fragile, relations.
Pakistan's military action comes after it fiercely condemned Iran's strike on Tuesday, which it said killed two children. On Thursday, Pakistan's foreign ministry confirmed its strikes, which had been first reported by Iranian media on Wednesday evening.
Iran said its strikes were aimed at a Pakistan-based insurgent group, but Pakistan said civilians were killed. It said Pakistan "fully respects" Iran's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" but its action on Thursday was "a manifestation of Pakistan's unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats".
Pakistan's military action comes after it fiercely condemned Iran's strike on Tuesday, which Islamabad says killed two children.
It had warned Tehran of "serious consequences" for the "illegal" action, banned Iran's ambassador from returning to the country and also withdrew its own envoy from Pakistan.
Iran admits carrying out deadly Pakistan strikeIran admits carrying out deadly Pakistan strike
Iran shows missile capabilities with regional strikesIran shows missile capabilities with regional strikes
It had warned Tehran of "serious consequences" for the "illegal" action and banned Iran's ambassador from returning to the country and also withdrew its own envoy from Pakistan.
Iran insisted its strikes were aimed only at Jaish al-Adl, which it labels a terrorist group, and not Pakistan's citizens.Iran insisted its strikes were aimed only at Jaish al-Adl, which it labels a terrorist group, and not Pakistan's citizens.
However its neighbour to the east was outraged by the action. Pakistan said it had occurred "despite the existence of several channels of communication". But an angered Islamabad questioned the strike taking place "despite the existence of several channels of communication".
On Thursday, Pakistan defended its own strikes into Iranian territory, saying its actions were only aimed at the "terrorists" known as Sarmachars. Earlier this week Iran had also attacked targets in Iraq and Syria.
"This action is a manifestation of Pakistan's unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats," the foreign ministry said. The air strikes come amid a major period of upheaval in the Middle East - with war raging between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, and attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group on ships in the Red Sea.
Pakistan said it "fully respects" Iran's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" and the "the sole objective of today's act was in pursuit of Pakistan's own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised." Tehran has said it does not want to get involved in a wider conflict.
But groups in its so-called "Axis of Resistance", which include the Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon and various groups in Syria and Iraq, have been carrying out attacks on Israel and its allies to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
The US and UK last week also launched air strikes on the Houthis after they attacked commercial shipping.
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