Iranian jets strike IS position in eastern Iraq

Iranian fighter jets bombed Islamic State jihadists in eastern Iraq in recent days, but the strikes were not co-ordinated with US forces, the Pentagon has said.

“We have indications that they did indeed fly air strikes with F-4 Phantoms in the past several days,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said.

His comments yesterday came after Al-Jazeera recently ran footage of what appeared to be an F-4 fighter, similar to those used by the Iranian air force, attacking targets in the eastern province of Diyala.

At a press conference earlier, Kirby said it was up to the Iraqi government to oversee and co-ordinate military flights by different countries and not US commanders.

“We are flying missions over Iraq. We co-ordinate with the Iraqi government as we conduct those. It’s up to the Iraqi government to deconflict that air space,” Kirby announced.

“Nothing has changed about our policy of not co-ordinating military activity with the Iranians.”

Iranian forces have reportedly been active on the ground in Iraq assisting Shiite militia and Baghdad government units, but this was the first time the United States had confirmed the Iranians were conducting air strikes against the IS group.

Iran also has provided Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft to Iraq amid widespread speculation that the planes are flown by Iranian pilots.