Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered weekend missile strikes on ISIS targets in Syria, Revolutionary Guards said, contradicting a previous report that they were authorised by the country's security council.
The Guards statement, published on Wednesday ran counter to a statement by President Hassan Rouhani who said earlier that the strikes were authorised by the Supreme National Security Council, Reuters reported.
Senior Guard commanders said on Monday that the missile strikes were intended to send a message to "terrorists" who carried out attacks in Tehran two weeks ago as well as their regional and international supporters, a reference to Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Khamenei's personal directive for the missile strikes, as reported by the Guards, highlighted their symbolic importance.
More than 170 "terrorists" including some commanders were killed in the missile strike, their statement said.
