Tehran says IRGC launched drones and missiles targeting US Fifth Fleet and regional airbases after US strikes near Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on US military installations across the Gulf and Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington.
According to Iranian state media, the IRGC launched drone strikes on the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, while firing long-range ballistic missiles at an airbase in Jordan hosting US forces. The attacks were described by Tehran as a direct response to fresh US strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Vows Retaliation Following US Attack:
The latest flare-up began after the US military conducted what it called “self-defence” strikes on Iranian radar sites, air defences and surveillance installations following the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington blamed on Iran.
President Donald Trump described the US operation as “very strong” and “very powerful.” In response, Iran’s IRGC vowed to retaliate forcefully, stating that foreign forces in the region would not be safe.
Kuwait and Bahrain reported air defence activations and sirens, while Jordan said it intercepted several incoming missiles aimed at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (also known as Al-Azraq). US Central Command has not yet issued a full damage assessment.
Regional Security Concerns Deepen:
The strikes come amid a fragile and repeatedly broken ceasefire in the broader US-Israel-Iran conflict that began earlier in 2026. Several Gulf countries hosting US bases have expressed concern over being drawn into direct confrontation.
Analysts warn that the widening of the battlefield to multiple Arab states hosting American troops risks further destabilising the region and complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts.