Iran Retaliates Against US Military Bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan

KATHMANDU. The military tension between Iran and the United States of America has suddenly escalated. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan in response to the attacks by US forces on its ports and islands in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a statement released by the IRGC on Wednesday by Iran's state-controlled media, the Iranian army carried out drone attacks on the US Fifth Naval Fleet stationed in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem military base in Kuwait. Additionally, Iran stated that a long-range missile was fired targeting the air force base in Azraq, Jordan.

Iran claims to have targeted 21 US military targets during its operation, four of which were completely destroyed. The destroyed facilities include a hangar for a modern US 'F-35' fighter jet at a military base in Jordan. The IRGC also claimed to have successfully shot down a state-of-the-art US 'MQ-9' drone flying over the Iranian city of Jam.

This recent military confrontation began with the incident of a US Apache helicopter being shot down on Tuesday. Accusing Iran of involvement in that incident, the US military attacked Iranian ports on the Qeshm Island and coastal areas in the Strait of Hormuz region. Iran stated that the US attack damaged a telecommunications tower and destroyed two water tanks in the Iranian city of Sirik.

The IRGC has warned that its military units are fully prepared to give a 'decisive' response to any move by the US military. Iran stated that Washington will have to take full responsibility if the situation worsens and tensions increase in the coming days. The US has not yet officially responded to this matter.

Meanwhile, the Jordanian army claimed to have successfully intercepted five missiles fired from Iran towards Azraq. According to Jordanian military sources, although missile fragments fell from the sky during this military operation, there was no human casualties or physical damage.

Following Iran's attack, sirens warning of air attacks sounded in US military areas in Bahrain and Kuwait. The Kuwaiti army stated that 'aerial targets' seen in its airspace were being neutralized, but did not provide further details.

Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in the US, analyzed in a conversation with Al Jazeera that Iran sought to retaliate strongly and swiftly against the US attack. Parsi said, 'If Iran had not responded so quickly, the narrative that the US could easily attack Iran at any time would have been established.'