The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it launched ballistic missiles targeting sites in both Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted the Revolutionary Guard in a statement claiming it "destroyed a spying headquarters" and a "gathering of terrorist groups hostile to Iran" in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Following the attacks, the Tasnim news agency, close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, reported on the "Kheibar Shekhan" missile and confirmed that the Revolutionary Guard targeted Idlib Province in Syria and the Kurdistan region with this type of ballistic missile. According to this report, “the operation carried out this morning against ISIS positions in Idlib Province should be termed the longest-range missile operation carried out by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which was executed by launching 4 ballistic missiles of this type.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard described the attack on Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in three statements as an attack on the "Mossad spying center." The Kurdistan Region government stated that the missiles targeted the home of Kurdish-Iraqi businessman Bishro Dzi. Iran also clarified that the attack on Syrian Idlib targeted ISIS bases. The Tasnim agency reported: "According to General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guard, at midnight on Monday Tehran time, 4 ballistic missiles of the 'Kheibar Shekhan' type were successfully launched from southern Ahvaz at the 'Takfiri group' in the Idlib area of Syria."
According to Hajizadeh's statements, Tasnim estimated the distance from the missile launch point in southwestern Ahvaz to Idlib to be about 1200 kilometers, considering it the longest-range missile operation by the Revolutionary Guard. Local reports indicate that Iran launched the missiles near the town of "Dar Khoyn" in southwestern Ahvaz, as well as from the provinces of Kermanshah and West Azerbaijan in western Iran. The Tasnim agency mentioned that the missile used in the attacks was revealed at a ground-to-ground missile base belonging to the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force in 2021, coinciding with the 43rd anniversary of the Iranian revolution.
According to the agency's report, the "Kheibar Shekhan" ballistic missile is considered one of the third-generation long-range missiles of the Revolutionary Guard. It uses solid fuel for movement and can maneuver during the descent stage to bypass missile defenses. After updates, its weight was reduced by one-third compared to similar models, and the preparation and launch time were decreased by one-sixth. The missile has a range of 1450 kilometers and is equipped with a joint guidance system and a maneuverable warhead. It is worth noting that Iran’s missile program is a contentious issue between the United States and the West with Tehran, deemed a regional and international threat. Iran is accused of providing missiles, missile parts, and manufacturing technology to its affiliated militias in the region.
