On Monday, the Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) revealed that their air defense units had effectively intercepted and taken down several Iranian aerial assaults.
The BDF’s claims contrasted with those from the Iranian government, which stated that only U.S. military bases were targeted. Instead, the BDF insisted that Iran’s actions constituted “illegal missile and drone attacks aimed at civilians.”
BDF
Iran’s recent attack was described by BDF as a “betrayal,” emphasizing that “the intentional use of missiles and drones against civilians and private properties is a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
In response to ongoing tensions, the U.S. launched missiles and drones into Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Oman over the weekend, targeting air defense facilities, radar installations, missile bases, and attack boats linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which is labeled a terrorist organization.
Iran alleged it had struck Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, claiming damage to fuel and ammunition supplies as well as U.S. Patriot air defense systems. However, defense officials from the affected Gulf nations reported that no substantial damage occurred to U.S. military sites and that all Iranian attacks were intercepted.
Kuwait reported that an Iranian drone impacted one of its offshore oil platforms on Sunday, injuring one worker and damaging three sites close to the Iraqi border. Additionally, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stated they intercepted Iranian drones and missiles.
The IRGC issued a statement on Monday labeling the assaults on surrounding countries as “retaliatory missile and drone strikes” against the U.S.
This marked the first time the Revolutionary Guards openly admitted to targeting civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, linking it to a significant U.S. air campaign. Yet, they maintained that their actions were justified.
The Revolutionary Guards claimed they “intercepted two ships that had disabled their tracking systems and were navigating through unauthorized routes in the Strait of Hormuz, thus jeopardizing maritime traffic.”
It’s worth noting that Iran’s activities extend beyond mere interceptions; a recent fire destroyed a Qatari liquid natural gas tanker off Oman’s coast.
According to the Revolutionary Guards, “in the first phase of retaliation against the invasion, our courageous Islamic fighters targeted several major missile bases and fuel storage at Jordan’s Prince Hassan Air Base with missile and drone assaults.”
“In the second phase, Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Forces struck a crucial helicopter maintenance facility, a hangar housing P-8 electronic warfare aircraft, and a command and control center for U.S. drone operations at Sheikh Issa military base in Bahrain,” their statement elaborated.
The Revolutionary Guards claimed their “third and fourth phases” involved assaults on Kuwait, asserting they completely devastated “fuel storage tanks and the Patriot air defense system” at Ali Al Salem Air Base, as well as other military assets in the region.
“We refuse to let a rogue, child-killing army from across the globe to continue its illegal interference here,” the statement declared.
Conflicting reports emerged from the Iranian regime and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM asserted that “the Strait of Hormuz remains open for all vessels navigating international waters.”
“U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to uphold freedom of navigation in light of Iran’s unprovoked aggressions, threats, and arbitrary assertions,” they stated further.
CENTCOM concluded, “Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is ongoing.”
Iran’s recently formed Persian Gulf Straits Administration (PGSA) claimed it was currently “impossible” to cross the strait.
The PGSA said in a statement that requests would be assessed and permits issued once calm is restored.
CENTCOM also stated on Sunday that it had successfully concluded a recent offensive aimed at “weakening Iran’s capacity to threaten international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The U.S. military mentioned that for the first time, it utilized fighter jets, naval vessels, one-way attack drones, and maritime drones against Iranian military air defenses, coastal radar sites, and other military assets.
