Iranian Civilian Casualties Reported in US Airstrikes Iran / IRGC Says US Forces Killed in Retaliatory Strike

Iran (IMNA) - Explosions were reported in several Iranian towns and areas, including Qeshm Island, Konarak, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas, areas surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Kangan, Sirik, Jask and Assaluyieh.

According to Iranian media reports, suspected US military strikes targeted Qeshm Island, areas near the Strait of Hormuz, Konarak and Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan Province and Kangan. Sirik port in Hormozgan and Jiroft Airport in Kerman Province were also reported to have been targeted.

The reports said the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed carrying out airstrikes in southern and southeastern Iran, claiming that the attacks targeted positions belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Fars News Agency later reported that energy infrastructure in Assaluyieh had also been targeted, while Jask was reported to have come under attack by the US military.

Iranian media also reported that Iran launched missiles and drones in retaliation for the US strikes. The Iranian military said its response would be several times stronger.

The strikes also reportedly caused civilian casualties. Iranian media said that four people, including a toddler, were killed while attending a wedding ceremony in southern Hormozgan on Tuesday night, with many others injured.

The IRGC later said its Aerospace Force launched heavy ballistic missiles at Camp Tibtin, a US Marines base on Jordan’s Aqaba coast, as part of the second wave of a retaliatory operation. The IRGC claimed that a large number of US forces were killed and several key installations and attack helicopters were destroyed.

According to the IRGC, the missile strike was carried out in response to the US attack on the residential home in Sirik, where the wedding ceremony was being held. The IRGC said nearly 50 people were martyred or wounded in the attack, including a child.

The IRGC described the US military as defeated and unable to confront Iranian forces directly, saying that retaliatory operations were continuing.