Iran attacks jihadist group in Pakistan

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Iran has attacked a Sunni jihadist group in Pakistan, increasing tensions between the neighbouring states following similar attacks by the Islamic republic in Syria and Iraq.

Iranian media late on Tuesday reported the destruction of two bases of Jaish ul-Adl in the remote western province of Balochistan, which borders Iran. The Pakistan-based Sunni militant group has waged an armed campaign against Tehran since its foundation in 2012.

Pakistan “strongly condemned” the strikes on its territory, saying two children were killed and three injured in the attack. The foreign ministry said the incident was “completely unacceptable”, warning of potential serious consequences.

The missile and drone strikes followed similar operations this week by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards in Iraq and Syria in response to a suicide bombing this month in the southern city of Kerman. Sunni jihadist group Isis took responsibility for the Kerman attack. The guards took responsibility for Iran’s strikes in Iraq and Syria but have not commented on the Pakistan attack.

Western concerns about the Islamic republic’s support for anti-Israel and anti-US Islamist groups, including Hizbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Palestinian territories, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iraqi militias have escalated in recent months. Houthi rebels are targeting merchant shipping in the Red Sea while Iranian-backed Iraqi militants have launched attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria.

The activity has increased fears that the war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted on October 7 following an attack by the Palestinian militant group in southern Israel, will evolve into a regional conflict.

Israel has launched a vigorous air and ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza, causing more than 24,000 deaths, according to Palestinian officials. Apparent Israeli strikes killed seven…