IRGC Threatens ISIS with Continued Missile Strikes

On Tuesday, June 18, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened the Islamic State (ISIS) that it would target their positions again if they continued their attacks on Iran. Rasoul Sanaei Rad, the political deputy of the IRGC, stated that the missile attack sent a message to the 'terrorists' that if they continued their mischief, they would face a strong backlash. According to Young Journalists Club, he emphasized that the IRGC's missile strikes on Sunday against areas in Syria were in 'retaliation' for the June 7 attacks by armed groups on the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, which resulted in 17 deaths and over 50 injuries. ISIS claimed responsibility for those attacks. The IRGC had previously threatened to take revenge on those responsible for the attacks in Tehran. On Sunday night, June 18, this military force announced that it had targeted the 'command center and gathering and support centers for the Takfiri terrorists' in the Deir ez-Zor region of eastern Syria with missiles. Mr. Sanaei Rad mentioned that based on the type of targets chosen and the gathering of Takfiri terrorists in this area, a high level of casualties in terms of personnel and logistical capabilities could be anticipated. Regarding a 'further attack' on 'terrorist gathering centers,' he stated that such actions would depend on decisions made by the Supreme National Security Council and the General Command Staff and would be contingent on future situations. Ramadan Sharif, the IRGC spokesman, also told Iranian state television that 'if the terrorists carry out specific actions that disrupt our security and warrant punishment, this action will definitely be carried out with greater power and intensity.' The IRGC claims that six Zulfiqar medium-range missiles, which have a range of 650 to 700 kilometers, struck ISIS positions, and this attack was 'successful.' Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, stated that 'the missiles were launched from Iran, passed through Iraq, and landed in Syria, and drones that took off from around Damascus transmitted the strikes to us simultaneously from Iran.' He also emphasized that 'if the terrorists continue their mischief, the consequences will be costly for them.' The IRGC Aerospace Force has reportedly provided images of these missile attacks to the state media and promised to release them soon. Syrian activists monitoring news from the country reported that they had not received immediate information about damages or casualties resulting from the Iranian missile strikes. Deir ez-Zor is home to ordinary citizens as well as ISIS militants. According to the Associated Press, after intensified airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition on Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic Caliphate in Syria, Islamist extremists have moved in large groups to Deir ez-Zor.