Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jun 10: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a drone strike targeting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, saying the attack was launched in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian territory earlier on Wednesday.
The development marks a major escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington amid a fragile ceasefire and growing instability across the Middle East.
According to the IRGC, US forces carried out attacks on multiple locations in southern Iran, including Jask, Sirik and Qeshm, before Iran launched what it described as a retaliatory operation against the US naval presence in Bahrain.
“In response to the enemy's aggressive action, IRGC naval forces launched a drone strike on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain at 2.30 am,” the Guards said in a statement carried by Iranian media.
The IRGC also warned that stronger responses could follow if attacks against Iran continue.
The latest confrontation comes after the United States launched military strikes against Iran following the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Reuters, US President Donald Trump defended the operation, saying Washington needed to respond firmly to the incident.
“I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that's what this one is,” Trump told ABC News.
Iranian media reported explosions near Qeshm Island, Sirik, Bandar Abbas and Jask following the US strikes.
US Central Command described the operation as a “proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” while Axios, citing a US official, reported that several Iranian air defence and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz were targeted.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later warned that Tehran would not leave any attack unanswered.
In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran's armed forces would respond to any threat against the country and cautioned foreign military forces operating near Iranian territory about the risks of remaining in the region.
He suggested that the safest course would be for such forces to leave the area.
Iranian state media, meanwhile, quoted military sources as saying no offensive Iranian air operations had been conducted in the Strait of Hormuz during the previous 24 hours. The same sources warned of a decisive response to any renewed hostility.
The Apache helicopter incident has added fresh uncertainty to efforts aimed at securing a broader understanding between Iran and the United States.
Reuters reported that the helicopter was brought down by what a US official described as a one-way Iranian attack drone. Trump later told The Wall Street Journal that the incident “wasn't a big deal” and said the pilot was unharmed.
However, US Central Command said the two crew members were rescued after about two hours and were in stable condition.
The incident occurred despite repeated assertions by Trump that Washington and Tehran were moving closer to an agreement.
Analysts quoted by Reuters said the latest military exchanges could further complicate diplomatic efforts and undermine the fragile ceasefire that has been in place since April.
Regional tensions remain high
The confrontation between Iran and the United States comes amid continuing violence elsewhere in the region.
Israeli strikes on the Lebanese port city of Tyre reportedly killed several people, while clashes involving Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued despite ceasefire efforts.
Tehran has repeatedly maintained that any settlement with Washington must include an end to hostilities in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern. The strategic waterway handles a significant share of global oil shipments, and the ongoing tensions have heightened concerns over maritime security and energy markets.