Iranian warplanes have conducted airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq during recent days.  The Pentagon says these attacks were not coordinated with the US military, which is leading the international effort to “degrade and destroy” IS through air attacks.

The US has said it would be inappropriate for Iran to join that coalition, and the Iranians are also dismissing suggestions of cooperation with the US, frequently referred to as “the Great Satan” in state propaganda. 

“We have indications that they did indeed fly air strikes with F-4 Phantoms in the past several days,” said Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby.

The Al Jazeera news network broadcast grainy video footage of what appears to be F-4 Phantoms targeting IS positions in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala.  Only Turkey and Iran fly F-4s in that region, and Turkey has made it clear that it will not take up arms against IS. 

That leaves Iran, which has kept its US-made jets aloft despite decades of economic and military sanctions that keep spares and support equipment away from Tehran’s grasp.  It’s believed that because of the way parts are cannibalized from other aircraft, only a dozen or so Iranian F-4s are operational at any given time.

So, that leaves the question:  Did Iran actually risk its precious few fighter planes to fly into a war zone in which it is not welcome for a hit and run attack?  Or is there some sort of agreement that Iran will not be attacked while it strikes Islamic State?