Pakistan says it has carried out a series of military strikes on what it calls terrorist hideouts in neighboring Iran. This comes after Iran attacked targets inside Pakistan, raising tensions between the two countries.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have conducted strikes on targets in nearby countries over the past few days. They launched missiles and drones attacking bases in a southwestern province of Pakistan, where they say an Iranian armed militia has taken refuge.

Pakistan officials strongly condemned the attack they say killed two children. They responded on Thursday, saying they undertook precision military strikes against a Pakistani separatist organization based in Iran.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters that the latest attack was "to protect and defend its national security against all threats."

Iran's state media reported on Thursday several explosions in a southeastern province killed nine people, including children. The Iranian government has condemned the attack and is demanding Pakistan account for it immediately.

Iran had also launched attacks in Iraq and Syria, saying the targets were linked to Israeli spies or the Islamic State militant group. There are concerns that the region could turn even more unstable.