FILE PHOTO: The Iranian flag is seen flying over Evin prison in Tehran, Iran October 17, 2022. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia 黑料社 Agency) via REUTERS
DUBAI/BAGHDAD 鈥� Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guards said they attacked the 鈥渆spionage headquarters鈥� of Israel in Iraq鈥檚 semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, state media reported late on Monday.
The elite force further said they also launched a strike against the Islamic State in Syria.
鈥淏allistic missiles were used to destroy espionage centers and gatherings of anti-Iranian terrorist groups in the region late tonight,鈥� Iran鈥檚 Guards said in a statement, naming Israel鈥檚 Mossad spy agency.
In addition to those strikes northeast of Kurdistan鈥檚 capital, Erbil, in a residential area near the US consulate, the Guards said they launched attacks against the 鈥減erpetrators of terrorist operations鈥� in Iran, including the Islamic State.
The missile strikes impacted no US facilities, two US officials told Reuters.
The strikes come amid concerns about the escalation of a conflict that has spread through the Middle East since the war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas began on Oct. 7, with Iran鈥檚 allies also entering the fray from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Iran, which supports Hamas in its war with Israel, accuses the United States of backing what it calls Israeli crimes in Gaza.
The United States has said it backs Israel in its campaign but has raised concerns about the number of Palestinian civilians killed.
At least four civilians were killed and six injured in the strikes on Erbil, the Kurdistan government鈥檚 security council said in a statement, describing the attack as a 鈥渃rime.鈥�
READ: Iran vows revenge after deadliest attacks since 1979 revolution
Multimillionaire Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee and several members of his family were among the dead, killed when at least one rocket crashed into their home, Iraqi security and medical sources said.
Dizayee, who was close to the ruling Barzani clan, owned businesses that led major real estate projects in Kurdistan.
Additionally, one rocket had fallen on the house of a senior Kurdish intelligence official and another on a Kurdish intelligence center, the security sources said.
Reuters could not independently verify any of the reports. Israeli government officials were not reachable for immediate comment.
Air traffic at Erbil airport was halted, the security sources said.
READ: Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Iran attack, Tehran vows revenge
Iran has in the past carried out strikes in Iraq鈥檚 northern Kurdistan region, saying the area is used as a staging ground for Iranian separatist groups as well as agents of its arch-foe Israel.
Baghdad has tried to address Iranian concerns over separatist groups in the mountainous border region, moving to relocate some members as part of a security agreement reached with Tehran in 2023.
Earlier this month, Islamic State claimed responsibility for two explosions in Iran鈥檚 southeastern Kerman city that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a memorial for top commander Qassem Soleimani.