Iran denies bombing ISIL targets in Iraq

Iran 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 on Wednesday 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 have seen those reports. We have 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.
“Again, you should consult the Iranian government to
speak to the activities of their government.”
Israeli media suggested it was highly unlikely that Iranian
fighter jets would be operating in the same area as the
international coalition without significant coordination.
However, the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian armed
forces has dismissed those reports as “totally untrue”.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran blames the United States
as the root cause of unrest and problems as well as the
terrorist actions of ISIL in Iraq,” Iran’s state news
agency FARS quoted General Massoud Jazayeri, as
saying.
On his part, Kirby also said that “nothing has changed
about [US] policy of not coordinating military activity
with the Iranians”.