Iran launches 'eye-for-an-eye' operation, claims strikes on US bases in Gulf
Tehran, July 13
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday claimed strikes on US military bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait as part of its ongoing 'eye-for-an-eye' operation in response to US military strikes in Iran, Al Jazeera reported.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran's state-affiliated Nour News Agency reported that the Iranian Army and IRGC had launched "large-scale missile and drone attacks" on "enemy bases in the region."
Citing an Iranian military official, the news report said the operation was launched in response to the US's continuing strikes on Iran and targeted sites identified following "enemy movements" over the past 48 hours.
In a statement, the IRGC said the first phase of the operation targeted Jordan's Prince Hassan Airbase with missiles and drones, claiming it had set fire to "several fuel depots and ammunition storage facilities." It said the US strikes came after an operation by the IRGC Navy to stop two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which it accused of "switching off their tracking systems, travelling illegally and endangering navigation."
The IRGC said the second phase targeted Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Airbase, claiming its aerospace forces struck "helicopter maintenance facilities, a hangar housing a P-8 aircraft and a US military drone command-and-control centre."
In the third phase, the IRGC claimed it had "completely destroyed" fuel tanks and Patriot air defence systems at Kuwait's Ali Al-Salem Airbase, as well as a "strategic FPS radar system" at Ahmed Al-Jaber Airbase.
The IRGC said the strikes were carried out by its aerospace forces during the third phase of its "eye-for-an-eye" operation in response to US military action against Iran, adding that the operation was continuing.
It also warned against further US involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran "would not allow continued foreign military interference" in the strategic waterway.
The IRGC said its retaliatory operations were continuing and that the results would be announced in subsequent statements.
The development comes as US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a major wave of offensive precision strikes across multiple locations in Iran on Sunday, targeting dozens of military installations to degrade Tehran's capability to disrupt international maritime trade.
The operations specifically targeted Iranian military air-defence systems, coastal radar infrastructure, missile and drone launch sites, and small tactical vessels. In a notable escalation of tactical deployment, US forces utilised a multi-domain assault force comprising fighter aircraft, naval combatants, and, for the first time, both one-way attack aerial drones and one-way attack sea drones.
According to a statement released by CENTCOM, the strikes were executed to protect the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime bottleneck. "The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it," the command stated.
The military action follows a sustained period of tension in the region, characterised by what Washington describes as Iran's unwarranted aggression, illegal harassment, and arbitrary threats against international commercial shipping.
The United States launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iran on Sunday (local time), with US Central Command saying the operation is intended to further degrade Tehran's ability to target civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out on the direction of the Commander in Chief to hold Iranian forces accountable."At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable," CENTCOM said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, both sides are acting like bullies in a schoolyard. The US started it with their strikes in Iran, and now Iran is retaliating. But are innocent civilians the ones who will suffer? The Strait of Hormuz is too important for the global economy. Someone needs to step in and mediate.
As someone who works in logistics, this is catastrophic. The Strait of Hormuz handles about 20% of global oil. Even a week of disruption will send fuel prices through the roof in India. The government should have a contingency plan ready, because this isn't going away soon.
Eye-for-an-eye and the whole world goes blind... 🤦♂️ The IRGC claims they hit airbases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait - these are sovereign nations getting dragged into a conflict not of their making. And what about our 9 million Indians working in the Gulf? Their safety should be priority one.
I'm no fan of any regime, but the US has been provoking Iran for years - from the drone strike on Soleimani to these new strikes on Sunday. Iran's response is predictable. But retaliation on this scale? Using drones and missiles against bases in three countries? This is a dangerous escalation that could spiral into a regional war.
The article says CENTCOM used one-way attack drones and sea drones for the first time. That's terrifying tech, and Iran is responding with their own missiles. Its like watching two nuclear-armed scorpions in a bottle. India must stay neutral, but also be ready to evacuate our people if needed. God knows what happens next.
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