Iranian response after US strikes

The Kuwaiti army said Wednesday that its air defenses were engaging “hostile air targets,” as the United States and Iran exchanged strikes after the destruction of an American helicopter.

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING

« The Army General Staff announces that Kuwaiti air defense systems are currently engaging hostile air targets in accordance with established operational procedures “, published the Kuwaiti army on X, without specifying the origin.

Iran had indicated that it had targeted the country to retaliate for American strikes that occurred earlier Wednesday morning, also claiming to have carried out attacks against Bahrain and Jordan where missiles targeted an American air base, in particular hangars housing F-35s.

Tehran had promised to retaliate after the United States launched airstrikes against Iran following the crash of an army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian media reported at least two series of explosions along the southern coast of Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz, notably on the island of Qeshm.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US forces in the Middle East, announced on X that it had “carried out self-defense strikes against Iran”.

« CENTCOM forces struck Iranian air defense systems, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions fired by US Air Force and US Navy fighter jets “, the message continued.

« The operation was a proportionate response to recent attacks targeting U.S. forces and international commercial vessels transiting regional waters “, specified the Central Command.

Trump earlier said in a social media post that Iran had shot down the aircraft while it was patrolling over the strait and said the United States “must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

« Iranian forces will not leave any attack or threat unanswered “, declared on X the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi. “Leave our region if you want to be safe. HAS”

The destruction of the Apache attack helicopter and the strikes carried out by the American army further weakened a ceasefire in force for two months. This new escalation comes the day after the first exchange of fire between Iran and Israel since this already precarious truce came into force.

A few hours before accusing Tehran of having shot down the American apparatus, Donald Trump had nevertheless been more optimistic about the evolution of discussions with Iran. The American president, however, did not specify the reasons for this renewed confidence.

Additional sources • AFP, AP