Iran claims strikes on US bases in Jordan and Bahrain amid escalating regional tensions
Tehran’s latest claims follow Washington’s self-defence strikes over the downing of a helicopter, triggering air raid alerts in Bahrain and raising the stakes in the Middle East.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated on Wednesday that missiles had struck four targets at a US base in Jordan and one at a US base in Bahrain. The claims were issued as Tehran continued its military response to recent US retaliatory strikes, marking a significant escalation in the conflict triggered by the downing of a US attack helicopter.
In Bahrain, the interior ministry issued an air raid alert following the IRGC’s assertion that a US base had been targeted. Authorities urged citizens and residents to remain calm and seek shelter in the nearest safe place, confirming via social media platform X that sirens had been sounded across the Gulf state.
The IRGC characterised the operations as a direct response to US military actions taken in the wake of the helicopter incident. While specific details regarding the circumstances of the downing remain undefined in available reports, the IRGC’s statement underscores the intensifying cycle of retaliation between the two nations.
Conversely, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed late Tuesday that it had completed its retaliatory self-defence strikes against Iran. The command detailed that US Air Force and Navy fighter jets employed precision munitions to target Iranian air defence systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites located near the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM described the operations as completed self-defence strikes, signalling a temporary de-escalation of US offensive actions while the region remains on high alert. The conflicting narratives from Tehran and Washington highlight the volatile nature of the current confrontation, with both sides asserting military superiority and justification for their respective actions.
The escalation has drawn in other regional actors, with Israel previously conducting strikes against military targets in western and central Iran, including explosions reported in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan. These actions followed Iranian missile attacks on Israeli targets, further complicating the security landscape in the Middle East.
As diplomatic channels struggle to contain the violence, the immediate focus remains on the reported strikes in Jordan and Bahrain. Independent verification of the damage to the US bases in these countries has not been confirmed, with reports relying primarily on statements from the IRGC and local authorities.
