TEHRAN (Agencies) - Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it attacked the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain with drones in response to US strikes on areas in southern Iran, adding that clashes are continuing.
In a statement, the IRGC warns of “a more severe response” if what it describes as US “aggression” continues.
“The warmongering US regime attacked several points in Jask, Sirik and Qeshm early this morning under false pretexts, damaging a telecommunications mast in Sirik and destroying two water tanks in the city,” the IRGC says in a statement quoted by Iranian media.
The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out “self-defence strikes” against Iran in response to what it said was the downing by Iranian forces of a US attack helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had chosen to “test our determination” and that Iran’s armed forces would “leave no attack or threat unanswered”, adding: “Leave our region if you want to be safe.”
Tehran’s deputy foreign minister earlier told Al Jazeera that Iran did not deliberately target a US helicopter.
Israeli attacks killed almost 20 people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, while thousands of civilians were threatened to flee as Israel issued more forced displacement orders ahead of planned military action.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has accused Israel of killing patients through delays by preventing more than 16,500 Palestinians from leaving the besieged enclave to receive medical treatment abroad.