Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says 21 US military targets hit across region

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Wednesday that it launched retaliatory attacks on 21 American military targets at US air and naval bases across the region.

In a statement, the IRGC said long-range missiles destroyed four major targets at the Al-Azraq base in Jordan, including hangars housing F-35 fighter jets and a command-and-control centre.

The Jordanian army said it shot down five missiles launched from Iran towards the al-Azraq area.

It added that the missiles were destroyed by air defence systems and noted that falling debris from the projectiles caused no loss of life or material damage.

The IRGC also said it launched a drone attack targeting the Ali Al Salem Base in Kuwait in response to what it described as American aggression.

The IRGC warned that its forces were fully prepared to deliver a “crushing and decisive” response to any new attack, adding that US forces would bear responsibility for the consequences.

IRGC says it downed US MQ-9 drone, targeted Fifth Fleet in Bahrain

The IRGC said early Wednesday that it shot down a US MQ-9 drone over southern Bushehr province and launched a drone attack targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

In a statement, the IRGC said the attack on the Bahrain-based fleet came in response to recent American strikes on Jask, Sirik and Qeshm in southern Iran.

It said the US strikes damaged a telecommunications tower in Sirik and destroyed two water tanks in the city’s Bamani district.

The IRGC added that its naval forces launched the drone attack against the US Fifth Fleet at 2.30 am local time.

“The clashes are ongoing,” the statement said, warning that “heavier responses” would follow if attacks continue.

Kuwait says its air defences intercepted ‘hostile’ aerial targets

Kuwait’s army said early Wednesday that its air defence systems intercepted “hostile” aerial targets amid escalating regional tensions.

No further details were immediately provided by Kuwaiti authorities.

In neighbouring Bahrain, the Interior Ministry announced the activation of warning sirens across the country.

Iran warns no attack or threat ‘will go unanswered’ after US strikes in south

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned early Wednesday that no attack or threat against Iran “will go unanswered” following US strikes in southern parts of the country.

“Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the US opted to test our determination,” Araghchi said in a post on the US social media platform X.

“Our powerful armed forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” he added, while warning the United States to “leave our region if you want to be safe.”

“History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders,” he said.

US strikes hit southern Iran

US strikes targeted parts of southern Iran early Wednesday, with explosions and projectile strikes reported in several areas of Hormozgan province, according to Iranian media.

Tasnim News Agency reported that areas in Sirik, Qeshm Island and Minab came under attacks carried out by US fighter jets.

The agency said at least six explosions were heard in the targeted areas, while Iranian state TV confirmed that a projectile struck the city of Sirik.

Iranian state media later confirmed that several projectiles also struck Qeshm Island, though the exact nature of the impacts remained unclear.

The broadcaster also reported the activation of air defence systems in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Sirik.

Mehr News Agency separately reported four explosions at Jask port and another blast on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

US launches self-defence strikes against Iran following Apache helicopter downing

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that American forces have completed a series of “self-defence strikes” against Iranian military targets in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter on Monday.

“CENTCOM forces struck Iranian air defence, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions from US Air Force and Navy fighter jets,” the command said in a statement.

The command announced that its forces began conducting “self-defence strikes” against Iranian military targets at approximately 5 pm Eastern Time (2am PKT) on Tuesday.

“The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” it said, adding that US forces remain “vigilant and postured” to defend against “unjustified Iranian aggression.”

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Washington is compelled to respond to an alleged Iranian attack that brought down a US military helicopter.

“I have just been informed by our great military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

He said both pilots were rescued and are uninjured, but “the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

‘I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful’

The incident followed several days of fluctuating tensions in the region, during which Israel and Iran traded military strikes before pulling back, underscoring the fragility of a ceasefire.

Trump described the strikes as a “very strong” and “very powerful” response to Iran.

“I think it’s very important to respond. They shot down a helicopter, and we are responding as we speak,” he told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl.

“This is a response to what they did with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is,” Trump was quoted as saying.

Separately, the Axios news site, citing a senior American official, reported that US military forces attacked several Iranian air defense batteries and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios said a second round of strikes in Iran were taking place “now” targeting air defense and radar systems.

Later, Axios reported that a third wave of attacks against Iran are “underway now.”

Citing a senior White House official, Politico reported Tuesday that Trump thinks an Iran deal is “still close” despite the retaliatory strikes.

“Nothing changes where the deal stands right now,” said the official.

‘Proportional and limited’ strikes

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said the strikes were “proportional and limited.”

“The White House and Pentagon have announced and said ‘it’s against unjustified Iranian aggression.’ They did notify me as leader of the House before this began, and it’s targeted strikes to the radar, missile and command and control sites, and it is defensive in nature,” he said at a news conference.

Johnson said he was at the White House earlier Tuesday with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and others.

“We were with the president, and we talked about, you know, Iran,” he added.

Senior Iranian lawmaker says regional energy infrastructure could be targeted if US attacks Iran

A senior Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday that energy infrastructure across the region could come under missile attack if the US launches military strikes against Iran, according to remarks carried by Iran’s Mehr news.

Hamidreza Haji Babaei, deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, said any US attack would prompt a forceful response from Tehran.

“If the United States carries out even the smallest military attack against Iran, all energy facilities in the region will come under a barrage of Iranian missiles,” said Haji Babaei.

He claimed Washington would lose access to its oil, gas and other interests in the region for years if a conflict erupted.

Haji Babaei also said Iran was not concerned by US military threats, arguing that Washington was reluctant to enter a direct conflict despite recent regional tensions.

Haji Babaei said the US had crossed many of Iran’s red lines during the ceasefire period and argued that Tehran should focus on overcoming economic pressure and sanctions.

He also claimed the current “no war, no peace” situation was not in Iran’s interest, but said any hostile action by foreign military aircraft, helicopters or vessels in the region would face a response from Iran’s armed forces, including the army and the IRGC.

Tehran warns foreign forces near Iran ‘face risks’ after Trump’s threat

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Tuesday that foreign military forces operating near Iran “face risks,” calling for them to leave the region, hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to respond to an alleged Iranian attack on a US military helicopter.

In a statement posted on the US social media company X, Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz is shared by Iran and Oman and is located far from US territory.

“Our powerful armed forces are on constant alert for any violation of Iran’s airspace, land or waters,” he said.

Araghchi warned that foreign forces operating near Iran are exposed to risks stemming from “human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire.”

“To reduce risk, the best solution is for foreign forces to exit, as soon as possible, an environment which will never be hospitable to a hostile presence,” he added.

The top diplomat said Tehran prefers diplomacy, but warned that Iran is capable of responding through other means if necessary.

“Iran prefers the language of diplomacy. However, as our brave warriors have shown to the world, we know how to speak other languages too,” he said.

The remarks came after Trump said the United States “must” respond to an alleged Iranian attack that brought down a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He said both pilots were rescued unharmed, while US Central Command later confirmed that two crew members had been recovered after the crash, adding that the cause remains under investigation.

The latest exchange comes amid renewed tensions in the region following days of military confrontations involving Iran and Israel, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire