The United States has conducted what it called "self-defence strikes" on Iranian radar and drone control sites in the Islamic Republic's Goruk and Qeshm Islands over the weekend. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the new strikes were a response to "aggressive" actions from Tehran. The strikes came as the two nations are discussing a peace agreement to extend a ceasefire and open the Strait of Hormuz.
"US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted self-defence strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran, and Qeshm Island this weekend," CENTCOM said in a post on X.
The strikes were in response to the shootdown of an American MQ-1 Predator drone this weekend that was operating over international waters, it added.
CENTCOM said US fighter aircraft responded by eliminating Iranian air defences, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones, and no US military personnel were harmed in the strikes.The two countries had traded strikes last week as well, with Iran targeting a US airbase after the US military carried out what a Washington official said were strikes targeting an Iranian drone operation near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Response
Citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's Fars news agency reported that Iranian forces targeted an airbase which was used for an attack on a telecoms tower on Sirik Island, located in the southern Hormozgan province, after US strikes. It did not specify where the US airbase was targetted, likely referring to the attack on Kuwait.
“Following the aggression of the US army on a communication tower on Sirik Island in Hormozgan Province an hour ago, the IRGC Aerospace Force fighters targeted the airbase where the aggression originated, and the predicted targets were destroyed,” the IRGC reportedly said.
Kuwait, meanwhile, said its air defences had opened fire early Monday morning to intercept incoming drone and missile fire.
No one immediately claimed the Kuwait attack, though it was likely launched by Iran or Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq. Both have launched numerous attacks on Kuwait during the Iran War. Amid escalating aggression, Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi has said that Tehran is continuing to exchange messages with the US on a deal to end the war. His comments came after US media reported that Trump has called for tougher terms in the preliminary agreement.
