Iran Retaliates After Alleged U.S. Strike on Iranian Island; Sirens Sound Across Bahrain, Iraq, and Qatar
Following reports of a U.S. military strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island, Iran has claimed to launch retaliatory attacks targeting American interests and military installations across the region.
According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck an Iranian military facility located on Qeshm Island. U.S. officials stated that the operation was carried out in response to Iranian missile and drone attacks.
CENTCOM said that U.S. and allied air defense systems intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian missiles and drones before they could reach their targets. The statement also claimed that several Iranian ballistic missiles failed to reach their intended destinations.
Two missiles reportedly fired toward Kuwait fell short of their targets, while three missiles heading toward Bahrain were intercepted and destroyed by U.S. and Bahraini forces.
At the same time, the U.S. military claimed to have disabled an oil tanker allegedly en route to Iran’s Kharg Island. American officials said the vessel was sailing under the flag of Botswana.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced immediate retaliation, stating that missile and drone strikes had been launched against U.S. military bases after communication infrastructure on Qeshm Island was targeted.
Iranian media reported that the retaliatory operation targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, along with certain air facilities and helicopter centers.
The IRGC said that responding to the U.S. attack was unavoidable and warned that any further aggression in the region would be met with a strong response.
Arab media outlets reported heightened security alerts in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. Warning sirens were activated in several areas of Bahrain, while the Bahraini Interior Ministry urged residents to follow safety precautions.
Separately, Iranian media claimed that after an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz was targeted, the Revolutionary Guards launched a missile strike against a vessel in the area.
Iranian officials warned that the United States would face consequences for threatening security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.