Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday claimed responsibility for targeting a United States airbase after American forces reportedly carried out strikes near Bandar Abbas airport in southern Iran. Iranian state media said the retaliation came hours after US military action near the strategic Strait of Hormuz region.
According to reports, the US military earlier struck a drone control station near Bandar Abbas and intercepted four Iranian drones that officials said posed threats to American troops and commercial shipping routes. The Pentagon described the operation as a “defensive strike” amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
Iranian authorities stated that the retaliatory attack targeted the American airbase allegedly involved in launching the earlier strike. The IRGC warned that any further “aggression” by Washington would receive a “more decisive response,” raising fears of wider regional instability. However, Iranian officials did not disclose the exact location of the targeted US facility.
The latest escalation comes amid fragile ceasefire negotiations and ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Gulf nations. Kuwait also reported missile and drone alerts during the heightened tensions, while global energy markets reacted nervously because of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.
International observers fear that continued military exchanges between Iran and the United States could further destabilize the Middle East and disrupt international trade and oil supplies. Diplomatic channels remain active, but both sides have issued strong warnings following the latest confrontation.