Iranian Regime Claims Strikes on US Bases in Qatar, Oman and Syria; Claims Yet to Be Verified

TEHRAN, July 17: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks targeting US military facilities in Qatar, Oman and Syria, saying the operations formed part of the 13th wave of its retaliatory campaign against the United States.

In a statement carried by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, the IRGC said it targeted the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of Washington's largest military installations in the Middle East and the forward headquarters of US Central Command (CENTCOM).

The Guards also claimed that their naval forces destroyed a US maritime control radar on the Salamah Rocks and a US air control radar in the Ghanam area of Oman, describing the strikes as part of ongoing retaliatory operations. The claims have not been independently verified.

Separately, the IRGC said it struck a US special operations command center in al-Tanf, Syria, alleging that the attack destroyed a radar system, several helicopters used for special operations and killed a large number of US military personnel. The United States had not immediately commented on the claims, which also remain unverified.

The IRGC said further attacks would continue, warning that Iran would maintain pressure on US forces across the region.

In a further escalation, the Guards declared that Iran remains in full control of the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to prevent oil and gas exports through the strategic waterway for as long as US military strikes against Iran continue.

There was no immediate confirmation from US, Qatari or Omani authorities regarding the reported attacks or the extent of any damage.