Pentagon: Iran Bombed ISIS Targets in Iraq

But they're not welcome to join coalition, US says
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 2, 2014 10:58 PM CST
Updated Dec 3, 2014 1:30 AM CST
Pentagon: Iran Bombed ISIS Targets in Iraq
Iranian fighter jets fly over the mausoleum of late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini during a military parade ceremony.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran has launched airstrikes against ISIS militants in eastern Iraq, according to the Pentagon. Rear Adm. John Kirby says the US believes this may be the first time Tehran has launched manned aircraft from inside Iran to strike targets in Iraq. The Pentagon spokesman says the US has not coordinated airstrikes or military activities with Iran. He says the US continues to fly missions over Iraq and that it's up to the Iraqi government to avoid conflicts in its own airspace. Iranian military leaders have acknowledged that dozens of their forces have been in Iraq fighting alongside Kurdish troops battling extremists. The US has not invited Iran to join the coalition fighting ISIS—and Iran has said it would not join in any case. (More Iran stories.)

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