IRGC claims attacks on US bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait after American strikes in southern Iran.
Image: Al Jazeera
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched retaliatory attacks on 21 US military targets across the Middle East following American strikes on southern Iran.
The IRGC claimed long-range missiles hit key facilities at the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, including F-35 hangars and a command centre. However, Jordan’s military said its air defences intercepted five incoming missiles and reported no casualties or damage.
Iran also said it targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and launched drone attacks on the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities later confirmed that air defence systems intercepted hostile aerial targets.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed it shot down a US MQ-9 drone over Iran’s southern Bushehr province.
The escalation came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced “self-defence strikes” against Iranian air defence systems, radar sites and command facilities near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington said the operation was a response to the reported downing of a US Apache helicopter.
US President Donald Trump described the military action as a “strong and powerful” response, while House Speaker Mike Johnson said the strikes were “proportional and limited.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that no attack on Iran would go unanswered and urged foreign military forces to leave the region. He also said Iran remains open to diplomacy but is prepared to respond to any further aggression.
The latest developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict.
