Iran claims retaliation after US hits drone command sites

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that it had targeted an air base allegedly used in a US attack on a telecommunications tower on Sirik Island, marking the latest escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington. In a statement, the IRGC’s aerospace force said it had struck the base involved in what it described as a US attack on the island, but did not disclose the location of the facility or provide details about the extent of the damage.

The announcement came a day after the United States said it had carried out strikes on Iranian radar and drone command-and-control facilities in Goruk and on Qeshm Island.

According to the US military, the weekend operation was launched in response to what it called “aggressive Iranian actions,” including the downing of a US MQ-1 drone that Washington said was flying over international waters.

US Central Command said the strikes targeted sites linked to Iran’s drone operations, describing them as measures aimed at protecting American personnel and interests in the region.

Iran has not publicly commented on the US claim that its forces shot down the drone. However, the IRGC’s statement suggested Tehran views the attacks on Sirik Island and other locations as part of a broader US military campaign against Iranian assets.

The exchange of strikes highlights a growing confrontation between the two countries, with both sides accusing the other of provocative actions in and around the strategic waterways of the Gulf region.

No casualties were immediately reported from either side, and independent verification of the claims was not available.