TEHRAN/WASHINGTON – Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its aerospace forces carried out retaliatory drone and ballistic missile strikes against US targets at two air bases in Jordan earlier in the day.
The strikes were in response to the "US and Israeli air aggression" against Iran's southern Larak Island in Hormozgan province on Sunday night, the IRGC said in a statement published by its official news outlet, Sepah News.
It identified the targeted air bases as King Hussein and Al-Azraq, saying that the strikes hit technical and maintenance infrastructure as well as hangars of fighter aircraft belonging to the United States, causing heavy damage.
ALSO READ: Iran's president says peace MoU with US in interests of Tehran
The IRGC said the attack was a "punishment for the aggressor," noting that "aggression and crime will not solve the enemy's desperation to weaken Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz."
It added that every military action by the "enemy" would be met with more "devastating" responses.
In a statement on Sunday night, the IRGC said that many Iranian military personnel and civilians had been killed or wounded in the attack on Larak Island, a small Iranian island located off the coast of Bandar Abbas, east of Qeshm Island and south of Hormuz Island.
Citing unofficial reports, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said that at least two people were killed and two others injured in what it described as a US "drone attack" on the island.
US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, marking the first known US strike against Iran since late July.
READ MORE: President: Iran not after war but will not submit to bullying
"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into Strait of Hormuz," Hawkins said in a statement, adding that the US military was "monitoring the area closely and remains prepared to protect the free flow of commerce" through the strategic waterway.
Iran's supreme leader urges Muslim unity to confront 'true enemies'
Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday called on Muslim countries' leaders to recognize their "true enemies," understand their plots, and confront them.
In a written message marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, Khamenei stressed that the solution to the problems of the Islamic world lies in maintaining unity, friendship, and cooperation in the pursuit of goodness and virtue.
Iran's supreme leader said, "My strong and repeated advice to the rulers of Islamic countries, especially those in the West Asia region and the Persian Gulf, is to recognize your true enemies, understand their plan, and confront them."
He described the "criminal rulers" of the United States and Israel as the "sworn enemies" of unity and friendship among Muslim countries, noting that they are the "enemies" of Iran and its people, the resistance front and the entire Muslim world, including nations in West Asia and North Africa.
Khamenei also urged Islamic countries to avoid conflicts and differences among themselves, defend each other and promote cooperation and synergy within the Muslim world.
He said that highlighting differences is what makes the "ill-wishers" hopeful, adding that greater unity is the main cornerstone for achieving the Islamic civilization.
