US Points to Iranian Air Strikes on IS in Iraq, Iran Denies Information

Iranian fighter jets during a military ceremony in Tehran. Photo: EPA/BGNES

The US revealed that Iran has carried out air strikes against targets of Islamic State (IS) in Iraq in the recent days.

Pentagon officials, who had requested anonymity, released the information that four F-4 Phantoms, which are in use by the Iranian army, have attacked targets on the border with Iraq in the last few days.

However a senior Iranian official, who had also requested anonymity, dismissed the information outright and assured that Tehran had no intention on cooperating with Washington.

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby told on Tuesday that the US was not coordinating its activities with Iran and it was Iraq's responsibility to manage its airspace.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who was at a meeting of the US-led international coalition against IS in Brussels, said that he had no information on any air strikes carried out.

While Iran and the US have had a strained relationship over the past decades, they have a common enemy in the face of IS.

Iranian army has been active in the region, backing the Iraqi Shiite militias in their fight against the radical Sunnites of IS.

Although Iraqi officials say that there are no Iranian troops on its soil, it is believed that Iran has sent senior commanders to advise the army and militia of Iraq in their operations against IS.

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