The US Central Command reported that American warplanes carried out a series of precision strikes on Iranian air defense systems, a ground control station, and also destroyed two suicide drones that, according to the Pentagon, threatened international shipping. The military emphasized that the strikes were conducted on Saturday and Sunday in response to Iran’s earlier downing of an American MQ-1 drone over international waters, calling its actions "defensive."
According to a statement from Central Command, the targets included radars and drone control points in the Guruk area and on the island of Qeshm in Iran. US forces noted that no US personnel were harmed during the operations and that infrastructure and equipment were not damaged. The strikes were aimed at neutralizing threats to shipping and regional security.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it carried out a direct strike on the airbase from which the American aircraft had launched. According to the Fars news agency, Iranian forces "accurately hit the targets" less than an hour after the US attack. The specific location of the base was not disclosed. The IRGC warned that any repeat of aggression by Washington would receive a "completely different" response.
Against the backdrop of the escalation, Kuwait reported that its air defense systems were intercepting missile barrages and drone attacks. Authorities urged citizens and residents to follow safety instructions, warning that sounds of explosions in the country were related to interceptions. The situation indicates an expansion of the zone of tension in the region, where mutual US and Iranian strikes threaten to draw neighboring states in.
News commentary
Why is the island of Qeshm strategically important for military operations in the Persian Gulf? - Qeshm Island is located in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil trade passes. Its strategic significance stems from the ability to control shipping routes, deploy anti-ship missile systems (for example, Noor or Khalij-e Fars) and drones, and use it as a base for rapid deployment of IRGC high-speed boats. In addition, its proximity to foreign military bases (for example, the UAE) makes Qeshm an important element of deterrence in the region.
What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and how does it differ from Iran’s regular army? - The IRGC is an elite and ideological military formation established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the Islamic Republic. It differs from the regular army (Artesh) in several respects: (1) it answers directly to the Supreme Leader (rahbar), not the Defense Ministry; (2) it has its own ground, air, and naval forces, as well as the Quds Force, responsible for operations abroad; (3) it controls key economic sectors (oil, telecommunications, construction) through the Khatam al-Anbiya structure; (4) it is actively involved in the country’s political life, unlike the regular army, which focuses on defending borders from external threats.
Full version: ضربات أمريكية داخل إيران وطهران ترد باستهداف قاعدة جوية