Iran says attacks in Iraq, Syria intended to deter security threats to country

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said missiles launched by the Revolutionary Guard last night into northern Iraq and northern Syria were intended as a counterterrorism effort to protect the Islamic Republic.

According to Kanaani, Tehran respects the territorial integrity of other countries but it has a "legitimate and legal right to deter national security threats".

France condemned the attack in the Kurdish region of Iraq, in which at least four people were killed, including a Kurdish businessman and his family members, according to local media.

"Such actions are a blatant, unacceptable and worrisome violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the foreign ministry said in Paris.

"This is an attack on the security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdish region, which leads to an escalation of tensions in the region. This must be put to an end."