Iran moving short-range missiles into Iraq
Iran is using the current upheaval in Iraq to
secretly move and stockpile short-range ballistic missiles in its neighboring
country, the New York Times reports citing US intelligence and military
officials.
“Intelligence officials would not discuss the
precise model of ballistic missile Iran has sneaked into Iraq. But short-range
missiles have a range of just over 600 miles, meaning that one fired from the
outskirts of Baghdad could strike Jerusalem,” the New York Times said in its
report.
Both Iraq and Iran have seen widespread protests in
recent weeks.
Two US officials, speaking on the condition of
anonymity, told Reuters on Wednesday there was intelligence over the past month
indicating that Iran was moving forces and weapons in the region.
It was not clear what specifically Iran was looking
to do with the movements, they added.
One of the officials said that part of the concern
was Iranian activity inside Iraq, which is experiencing anti-government
protests.
The New York Times and Reuters report come after Al
Arabiya sources confirmed late last week that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani,
the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Quds Force, was
present in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad after Iraq’s cabinet approved Prime
Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi’s resignation.
