In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Iran has claimed to have carried out major retaliatory strikes against United States military installations located in Jordan and Kuwait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army announced on Thursday that these operations were conducted in response to ongoing American military actions against Iranian interests. While the claims have not been independently verified, the Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, has provided detailed accounts of the alleged strikes, suggesting a direct confrontation between the two powers in West Asia.
Strikes on US Bases in Jordan
According to statements released by the IRGC, the Iranian forces launched intensive attacks on American military bases situated within Jordan, while the primary objective of these strikes was to neutralize advanced American defensive capabilities. The IRGC claimed that their operations successfully destroyed the radar systems of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. This system is a critical component of the US military's regional defense architecture, designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
In addition to the THAAD system, the IRGC claimed that the Patriot missile defense system and C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) radars were also destroyed in the strikes. The Iranian military further asserted that fuel tanks at the American base were set ablaze, and a large warehouse containing helicopter equipment, along with a maintenance and repair center for helicopters, was severely damaged and rendered inoperable, while addressing the people of Jordan, the IRGC stated that while Iran respects Jordan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it views the presence of US military bases as a violation of that very sovereignty. The IRGC emphasized that it's their legal, religious, and logical right to respond to those who attack their country and kill their children, regardless of where the attack originates.
Operation Lightning Phase 23 in Kuwait
Simultaneously, the Iranian Army announced the commencement of the 23rd phase of 'Operation Lightning,' claiming to have targeted three US military bases in Kuwait using drone strikes. According to the Army's public relations department, the drone attacks focused on the Doha base, the Ali Al Salem base, and Camp Arifjan, while specifically, the Iranian Army claimed to have hit the ammunition and logistics depot at the Doha base, fuel tanks at the Ali Al Salem base, and another ammunition depot at Camp Arifjan.
The IRGC issued a separate statement regarding the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, claiming that their forces targeted US military facilities, resulting in the destruction of a military equipment warehouse, a Patriot missile defense system, and hangars housing MQ-9 drones. Plus, the IRGC claimed to have targeted living quarters for US soldiers, helicopter hangars at the Al-Adiri barracks, and communication hangars, while addressing the Kuwaiti public, the IRGC maintained that these strikes don't constitute a violation of Kuwait's sovereignty, as the actions were strictly directed at US military installations. They argued that the US is the party violating regional sovereignty through its military presence and actions.
US Military Response and Ongoing Operations
These developments occurred as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported the completion of its 12th consecutive night of military operations against Iran. According to a statement from CENTCOM, at 10:30 PM (US time) on July 22, the US military concluded another round of strikes. These American operations targeted Iran's naval capabilities, missile and drone storage centers, coastal surveillance outposts, and air defense systems. CENTCOM stated that these strikes are intended to weaken Iran's ability to attack civilian vessels and commercial ships in the region.
CENTCOM further revealed that the US military has targeted dozens of military sites within Iran over the past month. Following the collapse of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations last month, the US has also resumed a maritime blockade against Iran. According to US military command, the routes of 9 commercial ships have been diverted so far, and one ship was disabled to prevent any vessel from entering or leaving Iranian ports. CENTCOM also noted that there are currently more than 50,000 US troops deployed in West Asia, prepared to handle any situation that may arise as the conflict continues to evolve.