Iran Launches Retaliatory Attacks on 21 US Military Targets
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced early Wednesday that it had launched retaliatory attacks on 21 American military targets across the region, including the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The operation was described as a response to recent American aggression against Iran.
In a statement, the IRGC said long-range missiles destroyed four major targets at the Al-Azraq base in Jordan, including hangars housing F-35 fighter jets and a command-and-control centre. The Jordanian army confirmed it had shot down five missiles launched from Iran towards the al-Azraq area, with debris causing no casualties or material damage.
The IRGC also launched a drone attack targeting the Ali Al Salem Base in Kuwait, warning that its forces were fully prepared to deliver a “crushing and decisive” response to any new attack.
IRGC Downs US Drone, Targets Fifth Fleet
The IRGC said it shot down a US MQ-9 drone over southern Bushehr province and launched a drone attack targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The attack on the Bahrain-based fleet came in response to recent American strikes on Jask, Sirik and Qeshm in southern Iran, which damaged a telecommunications tower and destroyed two water tanks. The IRGC added that its naval forces launched the drone attack at 2.30 am local time, warning that “heavier responses” would follow if attacks continue.
Regional Defences Activated
Kuwait’s army said its air defence systems intercepted “hostile” aerial targets, while Bahrain’s Interior Ministry activated warning sirens across the country. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that no attack or threat against Iran “will go unanswered,” urging the United States to “leave our region if you want to be safe.”
US Strikes Hit Southern Iran
US strikes targeted parts of southern Iran early Wednesday, with explosions reported in several areas of Hormozgan province, including Sirik, Qeshm Island and Minab. Iranian state media confirmed that a projectile struck Sirik and that air defence systems were activated in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Sirik. Mehr News Agency reported four explosions at Jask port and another blast on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces completed a series of “self-defence strikes” against Iranian military targets in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter on Monday. CENTCOM forces struck Iranian air defence, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions from US Air Force and Navy fighter jets. The operation was described as a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and commercial ships.
US President Donald Trump said the United States “must” respond to the helicopter downing, stating that the response should be “very strong, very powerful.” Axios reported that US forces attacked several Iranian air defence batteries and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz, with a second and third wave of strikes underway.
Political Reactions
US House Speaker Mike Johnson described the strikes as “proportional and limited,” targeting radar, missile and command-and-control sites. A senior White House official told Politico that Trump thinks an Iran deal is “still close” despite the retaliatory strikes.
Senior Iranian lawmaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei warned that energy infrastructure across the region could come under missile attack if the US strikes Iran, claiming Washington would lose access to its oil and gas interests for years. He said Iran was not concerned by US military threats and that any hostile action by foreign forces would face a response.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi warned that foreign military forces near Iran “face risks,” calling for them to leave the region. He emphasized that Iran prefers diplomacy but is capable of responding through other means if necessary.
