Iran Launches Airstrikes in Iraq; Kerry Describes Strikes as "Positive"

The government of Iran has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq, illustrating that the group is such a threat rivals such as the United States and Iran both seek its demise.  

The New York Times reports that the attacks took place in Iraq's Diyala Province, which borders Iran. The strikes took place within a 25-mile buffer zone on the Iranian border, which Iran established with the permission of the Iraqi government.

IS fighters entered the buffer zone, and were then attacked by four F-4 Phantoms of the Iranian Air Force over 9 hours, according to the Times. The strikes are said to have been coordinated with the Iraqi government. Dozens of IS fighters are believed to have been killed in the attacks.

The attacks were also used to support Iraqi Army ground forces as they tried to retake control of the towns of Jolah and Saeediyah, which the Times says lie just outside the Iranian buffer zone.

The Times notes that despite having a common enemy and goal, there is no talk of military cooperation between Iran and the United States.

Bloomberg reports that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the airstrikes by describing them as, "positive." Kerry also took the opportunity to reiterate that there is no military coordination between the United States and Iran.

Bloomberg also reports that the newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi was unaware of the airstrikes that Iran had launched. It is unclear why Abadi did not know, especially if the Iranian claim that the strikes were done in concert with the Iraqi military is true.

The presence of Iranian aircraft in Iraq will help to further weaken IS, which has been subjected to constant aerial bombardment in all the territory it holds, whether in Iraq or Syria. It is also possible that because of Iran's proximity to Iraq, the U.S. led coalition will be able to focus more resources on attacks in Syria, where IS is deeply entrenched.