{"id":50923,"date":"2018-10-01T14:25:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T14:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/01\/iran-fires-ballistic-missiles-at-syria-militants-over-attack\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:19:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:19:05","slug":"iran-fires-ballistic-missiles-at-syria-militants-over-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/10\/01\/iran-fires-ballistic-missiles-at-syria-militants-over-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran fires ballistic missiles at Syria militants; Pentagon says coalition troops were at risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This report has been updated since it was originally published. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles targeting Syrian militants<\/a> early Monday, an attack that potentially put coalition forces at risk, a Pentagon official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A ballistic missile fired by Iranian forces hit an area where U.S. troops and Syrian Democratic Forces are clearing remnants of Islamic State forces out of the Middle Euphrates River Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian strike in the MERV was confirmed Monday by Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesman, in an email to Military Times, who called it \u201creckless\u201d and \u201cescalatory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch of missiles and drone bombers was targeting militants Tehran blames for the recent attack on a military parade in Ahvaz, Iran<\/a>, according to news reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strike was a threat to coalition and Syrian forces operating in the area, Robertson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile no Coalition forces were harmed, we are still assessing the strike and given the complex nature of the battlespace, such strikes potentially jeopardize the forces who are actively fighting ISIS in Syria,\u201d Robertson told Military Times. \u201cFiring any missiles through uncoordinated airspace is a threat to civil and military aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian forces<\/a> failed to conduct the operations responsibly, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProfessional militaries, such as the Coalition and the Russian Federation, de-conflict their operations to ensure maximum safety; Iran took no such measures,\u201d Robertson said. \u201cAny Iranian activity in this area is reckless, unsafe and escalatory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t