Iran under attack from Ahvaz resistance

Twenty-nine personnel of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed and 53 others were injured on Saturday during a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahvaz in Iran. The Revolutionary Guards had accused the Arab struggle for the liberation of Ahvaz of the attack, before the movement claimed responsibility for the attack.

Eissa al-Fakher, member of the movement's media bureau, said yesterday that there would be good news about the Ahvaz cause. Analysts considered his statement as evidence that the movement attacked the Revolutionary Guards.

"The Ahvaz Nidal Movement targeted the Revolutionary Guards as part of its resistance to the Persian occupation," Yacoub al-Tostory told the opposition Iran international TV.

 "The operation, dubbed Mohie Eddin Humeidan al-Nasser, is a legitimate act against the Persian occupation and is an evidence that Arabs are determined to free Ahvaz," al-Tostory said.

For his part, Habib Jaber, head of the Arab struggle for the liberation of Ahvaz, said: "This is self-defense against terrorist militias".

ISIS claims responsibility

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack as well. However, it has not provided any evidence for that.

Iran said the assailants were not affiliated with ISIS, but they must have connections to the US and the Israeli intelligence.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to hit back, saying on Twitter: "Terrorists recruited, trained, armed and paid by a foreign. Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian lives".

He accused the US of supporting the attack on Iran. On Friday, US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo warned Iran of "direct action" for any attacks  even those using proxy forces, against US interests.

Aref al-Kaaby, head of the executive committee to reinstall legitimacy in Ahvaz, said the Ahvaz people have been under crackdown.

"The statement made by Iran's foreign minister points out Iran's intention to tighten crackdown on Ahvaz people and target opposition figures outside Iran," al-Kaaby told THE REFERENCE.

He called on the international community, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to interfere to protect the people of Ahvaz.

The Ahvaz attack has 4 indications. The Middle East, especially the Arab Gulf, will go through some great tension.

Iran will maximize gains from the attack, claiming that it is part of an American-Zionist plot.    

The attack also happened after US Secretary of State Pompeo warned that his country would take strong action against any attack on US interest in the region.

The third indication is that the Revolutionary Guards and Iranian officials accused some Arab Gulf countries and the US of training the group that carried out the attack.

 The fourth indication Iran dismissed the involvement of ISIS in the attack, which mean that Tehran might have had information its Revolutionary Guards would be targeted.