By Staff Reporter
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has launched attacks on United States military positions in Bahrain and Jordan, while Kuwait reported coming under Iranian attack, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
The strikes came after the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out what it described as “self-defence strikes” against targets in Iran. According to CENTCOM, the operation was launched in response to the downing of a US helicopter by Iranian forces over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington had chosen to “test our determination” and warned that Iran’s armed forces would respond decisively to any threat. “Leave our region if you want to be safe,” he declared. Earlier, Iran’s deputy foreign minister told Al Jazeera that the helicopter was not deliberately targeted.
The latest developments add to growing instability across the Middle East. In southern Lebanon, Israeli attacks reportedly killed nearly 20 people on Tuesday, while thousands of civilians faced the prospect of displacement after Israel issued new evacuation orders ahead of planned military operations.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry accused Israel of contributing to the deaths of patients by preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians from leaving the enclave to receive urgent medical treatment abroad.
The exchange of attacks between Iran and the United States has raised fears of a wider regional conflict, with several countries now directly affected by the escalating hostilities.
Source: Aljazeera
