WASHINGTON — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory barrage of ballistic missiles throughout the Gulf towards the US’ principal air base within the area on Monday, in response to US naval and air strikes at three delicate Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
US protection officers stated that no American personnel had been harm within the retaliatory strikes, which they stated focused the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar round 7:30 p.m. native time. “US Central Command efficiently defended in opposition to the assault,” one official stated. Army officers proceed to observe the scenario, one other stated.
Sirens additionally sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait on Monday night time because the barrage of missiles crossed the Gulf. Two sources on the bottom in these nations stated they noticed no visible indicators of incoming fireplace.
The Iranian assault concerned mid- and short-range ballistic missiles fired from Iranian territory, a protection official stated, citing the US army’s preliminary evaluation. The IRGC launched an announcement saying the barrage was retaliation for US strategic bombing of Iran’s nuclear amenities over the weekend.
The assertion, run by Iran’s Tasnim Information Company, opened with a verse from the Quran allowing retaliatory assaults in-kind, however forbidding any acts of aggression throughout holy months.
If confirmed, the symbolism of the assault might counsel Iran just isn’t looking for to escalate with the US, leaving a possible off-ramp for political leaders. However US protection officers stated they may not affirm that Iran just isn’t planning extra retaliatory assaults.
“We didn’t hurt anybody. And we won’t settle for any harassment from anybody below any circumstances,” a Persian-language X account linked to Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted following the assault.
“We won’t undergo anybody’s harassment; That is the logic of the Iranian nation,” the publish learn, above what gave the impression to be an AI-generated illustration of a US army base in flames.
Following the barrage, President Donald Trump stated in an announcement launched on Fact Social that no Individuals had been harmed by the missiles and that “hardly any injury was finished” to the bottom.
Trump added that Iran had launched 14 missiles, 13 of which had been intercepted, whereas the remaining one was “headed in a nonthreatening course.”
In distinction to the US claims, Qatar’s authorities took credit score for the interceptions, saying in an announcement that Iran had fired 19 missiles.
“I wish to thank Iran for giving us early discover, which made it potential for no lives to be misplaced and no person to be injured,” Trump’s assertion learn.
US protection officers have prompt Al Udeid Air Base — the primary regional hub for the US’ ninth Air Drive — been no less than partially evacuated in current weeks in anticipation of Iranian strikes in opposition to it and different US bases within the area amid Israel’s shock air offensive against Iran.
The New York Occasions cited Iranian sources as saying Tehran offered the Qatari authorities with a warning concerning the assault earlier than it was carried out.
A spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM) referred Al-Monitor to the White Home for remark.
Qatar’s authorities slammed the IRGC’s assault on Monday as a violation of its sovereignty and stated it reserves the proper to reply in a proportional method.
The retaliatory strikes marked Tehran’s first assault apparently directed at American army personnel within the area since January 2020, when the IRGC launched greater than a dozen ballistic missiles at a US air base in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan area.
The Pentagon initially reported no casualties in that incident, however greater than 100 US troops had been evaluated for rising signs of traumatic mind accidents over the following days.
Iranian officers telegraphed a imprecise forewarning forward of that assault as nicely, diplomatic sources concerned within the discussions instructed Al-Monitor.
This can be a creating story and shall be up to date.