Pakistan carried out air and artillery strikes on targets inside Iran Thursday. According to Iranian state media, at least nine people were killed. This attack targeted Balochi separatists in seven locations and involved “drones, rockets, loitering munitions and standoff weapons," and was in response to an Iranian missile attack inside Pakistan on Tuesday. 

pic.twitter.com/xwYndqu7GV

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 18, 2024

Tuesday, Iran fired a missile at what it alleges was a Balochi separatist base in Pakistan. It gets confusing, but these are a different flavor of Balochi separatists that the Pakistanis claim they attacked.

There are a lot of moving parts here that aren't terribly clear now but will be in the following weeks.

First, when the Iranian missile attack happened, Iran and Pakistan were holding joint naval exercises and appeared to have good relations.

Iranian and Pakistani military forces have staged a day-long joint naval training exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and the northern tip of the Persian Gulf. pic.twitter.com/epBYUHXiPw

— Press TV (@PressTV) January 17, 2024

This led to immediate speculation that Pakistan had agreed to the attack.

That narrative was soon put to rest as Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Tehran and declared the Iranian ambassador persona non grata.

Pakistan expels Iran envoy, recalls ambassador from Tehran after air strike pic.twitter.com/7wgSRNl2gI

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) January 18, 2024

India expressed support for Iran, but it has also expressed support for Israel. India says it consistently supports actions against terrorists. But India is a member of the quasi-politico/economic grouping called BRICS, and in August, Iran was invited to join that club. See: Major Shipping Lines Avoid Red Sea; Is It Just the Houthis or Should We Be Looking Deeper?

Let me get this right, Pakistan and Iran are going at it while India is supporting Iran and the U.S. is supporting Pakistan positions. At the same time India supports Israel along with the U.S. While Israel provides military equip to the Azeris who are in conflict with Armenia. pic.twitter.com/w0MBITYpod

— Ravens (13-4) (@JustAFamilyMan_) January 18, 2024

The Balochis have responded by stepping up their operations against Iran.

ALERT:
The deputy commander of the Saravan Corps of Sistan Wa Baluchistan province, Colonel Hossein Ali Javadanfar, was shot dead when he was returning from an administrative mission on the Khash-Zahedan road, Iran. Iranian state media reported.
Jaishul Adal, a militant group… pic.twitter.com/LiizDcCVFT

— The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) January 17, 2024

While swatting terrorists (or freedom fighters) makes an appealing cover story, there seems to be more going on here. In 24 hours, Iran launched missile attacks on targets in three neighboring countries. In addition to Pakistan, there were these:

January 15: Erbil Iraq

Video of Kurdish businessman Peshrav Dizeya's residence in Erbil, Iraq, destroyed by an Iranian missile attack.

According to Iran, Dizeyi worked for the Mossad and traded oil with Israel.

Four Fateh-110 OTRK missiles were fired simultaneously at the residence, killing Dizeyi… pic.twitter.com/CnW5fMASmm

— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) January 16, 2024

January 15: Syria

#MiddleEastConflict The IRGC of Iran is also claiming Responsibility now for the Missile Attack on the City of Aleppo in Northern #Syria, stating that it Targeted several #ISIS Facilities.https://t.co/wOHtMdegB4 #Turkish #Kurdish #Iraq #Iran #USA #Israel #Hamas #Gaza #IRGC https://t.co/6zZTsCFpme pic.twitter.com/y8ZzSjR0I3

— Peoples Eye (@eye_peoples) January 15, 2024

This gives more of an impression that Iran is attempting to capitalize on the success of its Houthi proxies in closing the Red Sea and trying to make the point that it is the regional power center and will do as it damn well pleases.