Iran Accuses US of Targeting Civilians as Washington Reports Strikes on IRGC Sites
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has strongly condemned what he described as a US attack on residential areas on Qeshm Island, accusing Washington of deliberately targeting civilians and warning that Iran would respond. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
In a post on X, Ghalibaf described the reported strike as a “terrorist attack” and claimed it followed similar incidents in Minab and Lamerd.
“The United States soils its hands with a new crime every day. The terrorist attack on the residential homes of civilians on Qeshm Island is a continuation of the atrocities in Minab and Lamerd… They will pay the price,” Ghalibaf wrote.
US Says Strikes Targeted IRGC Military Facilities
The comments came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out a large wave of strikes against dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets across Iran.
According to CENTCOM, the operation was completed on 29 July and targeted:
- IRGC command centres.
- Missile and drone facilities.
- Coastal surveillance and defence positions.
- Maritime military capabilities.
The US military said the strikes were launched in response to what it described as attempted Iranian ballistic missile attacks against US forces in West Asia.
CENTCOM also stated that all of the missiles fired by Iran on 28 July were successfully intercepted.
US Military Remains on High Alert
CENTCOM said that more than 50,000 US service members remain deployed across the Middle East and are fully prepared to respond to any further escalation.
The command described its forces as remaining “highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.”
Iran Claims Strike on US Air Base in Jordan
Iranian state media later reported that the IRGC Aerospace Force launched ballistic missiles at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan in retaliation for the alleged US strike on Qeshm Island.
According to the Iranian claims, the missile attack:
- Destroyed three US F-35 fighter jets.
- Severely damaged three additional F-35 aircraft.
- Killed several US military personnel and technical staff.
Iran also alleged that the US airstrike on Qeshm Island hit two residential houses, killing three members of one family, including a child, and injuring two other children.
Claims Remain Unverified
The Iranian allegations regarding civilian casualties on Qeshm Island, as well as the reported destruction of US F-35 fighter jets in Jordan, have not been independently verified.
US officials have previously disputed Iranian claims about damage to American military assets and have maintained that recent operations were directed at military targets rather than civilian areas.
The situation remains highly fluid, with tensions between Iran and the United States continuing to rise amid ongoing military exchanges across the region.
