Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks targeting United States military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The IRGC stated these actions were in direct retaliation for recent US strikes on Iranian ports and islands located in the Strait of Hormuz.

These strikes follow a significant escalation after the US military attacked Qeshm Island and coastal ports in Iran. The US actions were reportedly in response to Iran being blamed for the downing of a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz earlier on Tuesday.

The IRGC announced that it launched drone attacks against the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. Additionally, a long-range missile strike was directed at an air base in Azraq, Jordan. The corps claimed to have attacked 21 US targets, destroying four, including an F-35 fighter jet hangar in Jordan. They also asserted they shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the Iranian city of Jam.

Experts suggest Iran's swift and forceful response aims to deter future US attacks and prevent the establishment of a precedent where the US could strike Iranian territory with impunity. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft noted that Iran is attempting to demonstrate that any attack on its territory will be met with a response, regardless of its scale.

The IRGC statement indicated that the earlier US attacks in Iran had resulted in damage to a telecommunications tower and the destruction of water tanks in the town of Sirik. The corps issued a warning that its forces are prepared for a "crushing and decisive" response to any further US military actions and that Washington would be held accountable for any escalation.

Official responses from the targeted countries varied. Jordan's military confirmed intercepting and shooting down five missiles launched from Iran towards Azraq, stating that the incident resulted in falling shrapnel but caused no human injuries or material damage. Air raid alarms were activated in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti Army reported intercepting "hostile aerial targets" within its airspace but provided no further details. The United States had not immediately commented on the claims at the time of reporting.

This series of retaliatory strikes highlights the volatile nature of the ongoing conflict and raises concerns about further escalation in the region, particularly given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz for global oil transit.