Iran claims drone strike on Jordan's Al-Azraq base as Trump warns of harsher US attacks

Iran has claimed responsibility for a fresh drone strike targeting the Al-Azraq military base in Jordan, saying the attack formed part of its ongoing campaign against US military installations in the region. The claim comes as US President Donald Trump warned of intensified strikes on Iran's infrastructure unless Tehran returns to negotiations.

Iran says Al-Azraq base targeted in seventh phase of Operation Lightning

Iran's army said it carried out drone strikes on the Al-Azraq military base in Jordan, targeting facilities including locations housing F-18 fighter jets, accommodation buildings and a large equipment shed. The operation was described as the seventh phase of "Operation Lightning", according to a statement issued by Iran's Army Public Relations Department and carried by the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

The statement said, "In the seventh phase of Operation Lightning, and in continuation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's devastating drone attacks against US bases in the region, an hour ago, the location of the F-18 fighter jets, the accommodation building, and the large equipment shed of the US terrorist army at the Al-Azraq base in Jordan were targeted by destructive drone attacks."

Iran also vowed to continue retaliatory operations against the United States, stating, "The nation's soldiers in the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran will definitely establish the great lesson and strategic message of the martyred revolutionary leader to the enemy that the 'era of hitting in the face' is over and any action against the soil, water, and sky of this historic country will not go unanswered and without a proportionate cost."

The army further asserted that the latest operation was part of an ongoing campaign against US military installations across the region.

It said, "Since the beginning of the US violation of the ceasefire and the brutal attacks against areas of our country, the Islamic Republic of Iran's army has carried out 6 stages of drone operations against the bases and centers of the US terrorist army in the region, and these operations will continue until the final victory is achieved."

Trump threatens strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges

Amid the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would significantly intensify military operations against Iran if Tehran failed to resume negotiations.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, "We're going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We're going to hit them very hard the night after, and then next week it gets really bad for them, because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."

He also cautioned that Iran would not "have anybody left" if it failed to reach an agreement with the United States.

Trump's remarks came as US military strikes on Iran entered a fourth consecutive day following the collapse of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia.

IRGC claims strikes on US assets in Bahrain and Kuwait

Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it launched the third wave of Operation Nasr 2, targeting US military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for earlier American strikes.

According to a statement carried by IRIB, the operation involved simultaneous missile and drone attacks on US military facilities. The IRGC claimed its Navy and Aerospace Forces struck weapons and equipment storage facilities, along with parts of US ships and aircraft, at the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

It also claimed to have targeted the MQ-9 drone deployment ramp at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, saying several drones were destroyed or damaged.

The statement said, "The brave warriors of the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Forces in the third wave of Operation Nasr 2...destroyed several weapons and parts storage sheds for enemy ships and aircraft at the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain during a simultaneous missile and drone operation a few hours ago."

It added, "They also attacked the ramp for the deployment of enemy MQ9 drones at the Ali Salem base in Kuwait, destroying or damaging a number of drones."

According to the IRGC, the strikes were launched in response to US military attacks earlier in the day on several of Iran's coastal military positions.

Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had completed another series of coordinated strikes at 10:15 pm Eastern Time on July 13. The five-hour operation targeted military infrastructure at Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas along Iran's southern coast.

CENTCOM said precision-guided munitions were used to target Iranian coastal defence systems, missile launch infrastructure, drone positions and naval capabilities.

(With inputs from ANI)