Amidst rapidly rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, Iran has asserted that it has successfully carried out retaliatory strikes against American military facilities. The aerospace division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that it targeted US bases located in Kuwait and Bahrain in response to recent American military actions within Iran. According to the IRGC, this operation involved strikes on the Arifjan and Ali Al Salem air bases in Kuwait, as well as the Juffair and Sheikh Isa air bases in Bahrain.
Reasons Behind the Strikes and IRGC Statement
The Iranian authorities claimed that these attacks were executed through a coordinated effort between their naval and aerospace units, utilizing both missiles and drones. The IRGC stated that this military response was necessary to address recent US actions, which Tehran has condemned as a violation of its sovereignty. Iran has further criticized the United States, arguing that the recent strikes disregarded established promises and international commitments. The IRGC contends that the American military intervention has only served to fuel public anger across the globe.
US Attacks on Iranian Territory
The IRGC alleged that the US military conducted strikes across multiple locations along Iran's southern coastline. Additionally, the forces targeted two bridges connecting to the city of Mashhad in the eastern region. Iran highlighted that these American offensives were carried out during a period when the nation was observing funeral rites for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. IRGC officials characterized these US actions as criminal and warned that they would exacerbate unrest worldwide.
Threats of Further Retaliation
Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States regarding future military engagements. The IRGC made it clear that if the US decides to repeat its actions, Iran's counter-measures will be significantly more extensive. The statement emphasized that Islamic warriors would not stand by in the face of American aggression. They warned that if Washington persists with its current strategy, the scale of retaliation will grow, and other American bases situated in the region will also become legitimate targets.
Impact on US Navy Headquarters
According to the state-run broadcaster IRIB, the repercussions of these retaliatory strikes also reached the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain. The report indicated that ballistic missiles were launched from the Iranian city of Bushehr, acting as an immediate response to US strikes carried out in that same area just hours prior. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti military confirmed that its air defense systems have been activated to attempt to intercept incoming missiles and drones as the situation continues to develop.
