Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai
Dubai, Sep 2: Iran launched a retaliatory military operation against the United States, firing ballistic missiles and drones from its territory after US forces carried out a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets, further escalating tensions across the Middle East.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the operation as a “regretful response to the aggressors” and claimed that it targeted a US military base in Jordan with ballistic missiles. Iranian media also reported a large-scale drone attack on a US base in Bahrain.
Jordan said its air defences intercepted 10 of the 13 ballistic missiles that entered its airspace, while the remaining three fell in remote areas away from populated locations. Kuwait also said its air defence systems were responding to hostile drone attacks following Iran’s retaliatory operation.
The latest escalation followed fresh US strikes on Iran on Tuesday, the second such operation in two days. The attacks reportedly targeted IRGC facilities near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump had earlier warned Tehran that any retaliation would invite a much stronger American response. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States was carrying out “large and powerful” strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Trump, the US operation came in response to what Washington described as Iran’s failed attempt to lay sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and a missile attack on a US military base in Jordan.
Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the retaliatory operation had begun, while the IRGC accused the United States of carrying out what it termed “blind and desperate attacks” on several locations, including civilian areas. The IRGC claimed that the US strikes had intensified the situation around the Strait of Hormuz and strengthened Iran’s determination to confront foreign military forces operating in the region.
The Iranian military claimed that its ballistic missiles targeted a US base in Jordan and alleged that a large number of American personnel were killed. The claim had not been independently confirmed, and there was no immediate response from US authorities. Iranian media also reported a large-scale drone attack on a US military base in Bahrain, though no official confirmation of the reported strike was immediately available.
Air raid sirens sounded in Jordan as the country’s air defence systems responded to the Iranian missile attack. The Jordanian military said 13 ballistic missiles entered its airspace, of which 10 were intercepted. The other three fell in remote areas and reportedly caused no casualties in populated areas.
Kuwait’s military said its air defence systems were responding to hostile drone attacks amid the wider Iranian retaliation.
The United States launched fresh air strikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday, further escalating the months-long conflict and raising concerns over global energy supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command said American forces began striking IRGC targets in Iran at 12 pm ET (1600 GMT) on Tuesday. “The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region,” US Central Command said.
Iranian state television reported explosions on Qeshm Island, located on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump warned Iran that any retaliation against the latest US strikes would trigger an even stronger American response.
“The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in his post, describing the strikes as “large and powerful”.
He said the attacks were carried out in response to Iran’s alleged attempt to place sea mines in the Strait and the launch of eight missiles at a US military base in Jordan, which he said were successfully intercepted.
Trump further warned that Iran would face attacks “at a much harder and higher level” if it retaliated. He also indicated that the United States had a more devastating operation prepared if the situation escalates further, warning that there could be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran following such an attack.