adminIran has denied it conducted air strikes against ISIL targets in eastern Iraq, after Al Jazeera ran footage of what appeared to be an F-4 fighter jet, similar to those used by the Iranian air force.Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Iranian official told Reuters news agency yesterday that “Iran has never been involved in any air strikes against the Daesh targets in Iraq.”
The official was using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the armed group which controls large expanses in Iraq and Syria.
“Any cooperation in such strikes with America is also out of question for Iran,” the official said.
The Al Jazeera footage of the alleged F-4 fighter was filmed on November 24 as the jet struck ISIL targets in the province of Diyala, prompting media reports that Iran was involved in the US-led coalition against ISIL.
The Pentagon on Tuesday said it had no reason to doubt reports that Iranian fighter jets had bombed ISIL targets in Diyala.
“I’ve seen those reports. We’ve no indication that the reports are not true that Iranian aircraft have conducted air strikes, in the last several days, against ISIL targets in eastern Iraq,” John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said. – Al Jazeera
Online Reporter