Claims of Retaliatory Strikes Across the Middle East
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued statements carried by its official news outlet Sepah News confirming that forces under its command launched fresh retaliatory strikes against United States military bases and assets. These operations targeted locations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq on Friday.
According to the IRGC, the attacks were executed as a response to what it described as US "crimes" against Iran. The group asserted that its forces utilized advanced weaponry to inflict damage upon American infrastructure and personnel stationed in these regions.
Destruction of Facilities in Kuwait
Reporting carried by Xinhua News Agency detailed specific claims regarding the impact on facilities within Kuwait. The IRGC stated that it had struck a "very large" US ammunition depot located at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
The group claimed these strikes were conducted using kamikaze drones characterized as "advanced and ultra-heavy." According to the report, this action resulted in the complete destruction of the specified depot.
In addition to the damage inflicted on storage facilities, the IRGC added that its forces also attacked various other facilities housing US personnel at Ali Al Salem Air Base. The group reported that these secondary attacks caused casualties among American troops stationed there.
Operations in Bahrain and Jordan
The scope of the claimed operations extended to neighboring nations, specifically targeting assets within Bahrain.
In Bahrain, the IRGC announced it had completed an earlier military operation directed against a data centre belonging to a US company. The group reported that this facility was destroyed down to its remaining building structure.
Damage Reported at Al-Adiri Camp and Fifth Fleet Headquarters
The claims regarding Kuwaiti targets also included operations at the Al-Adiri Camp.
According to the IRGC, forces carried out demolition actions against three separate US ammunition depots located within this camp. The group further stated that it targeted equipment storage sites in addition to the primary munitions facilities.
In Bahrain, specific attention was drawn to the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet.
The IRGC reported striking a watchtower associated with the Fifth Fleet command structure at its base location. The group characterized this action as causing significant damage to the facility.
Assault on Jordanian Air Base
A separate claim involved an attack directed against Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan.
The IRGC described this operation using strong language, stating its aerospace forces carried out a "crushing" attack. The group reported that the assault caused significant damage to a number of US fighter aircraft stationed at the base.
Furthermore, the report indicated that barracks housing US military personnel were also struck during these operations.
The IRGC stated that these strikes resulted in casualties among US forces located within the accommodation facilities at Al-Azraq Air Base.
Operations Within Iraq and Missile Interception
Beyond the Gulf states, the group announced "surprise" operations carried out against US military positions situated in Erbil.
Erbil serves as the capital of the Kurdistan region within Iraq. The IRGC claimed its forces targeted specific defensive systems during these incursions.
Targeting Air Defence and Surveillance Assets
The group stated that a Patriot air defence system was destroyed in Erbil.
In addition to destroying this air defence capability, the IRGC reported hitting an espionage balloon. The organization also claimed it struck US troop accommodation facilities within the same operational area.
Defensive Claims and US Response
The reporting on defensive capabilities noted a separate incident occurring over Iranian territory.
The IRGC stated that its air defences intercepted a cruise missile fired by the United States. This interception took place Thursday night above Kahnuj County in southeastern Iran.
US Central Command Statement
In response to the broader exchange of fire, US Central Command issued a statement on social media platform X early Friday.
The command reported that its forces had "successfully completed the 13th straight night of strikes against Iran." The United States military indicated it was actively targeting Iranian assets during this period.
Attribution and Verification
All claims regarding specific targets, casualty figures, and damage assessments are attributed directly to statements made by the IRGC or its affiliated news outlets. No independent verification of these destruction claims is provided in the available source context.
The opposing party response comes from US Central Command, which confirmed ongoing offensive operations against Iran while denying responsibility for any specific losses claimed by Iranian forces.
Separah News served as the primary vehicle through which the IRGC disseminated information regarding these Friday attacks. Xinhua News Agency reported on the details provided to them concerning the Kuwaiti targets.
The timeline of events places the missile interception in Kahnuj County prior to the main wave of retaliatory strikes announced for Friday.