‘Response Will Be Far More Severe’: Iran Warns US-Israel of Harsher Retaliation

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on what it described as oil facilities linked to the United States in the region.

In a statement issued by its Public Relations Office, the IRGC said the strikes were part of the 63rd wave of its retaliatory campaign, Operation True Promise 4, launched in response to joint US-Israel strikes on Iran.

The Corps further stated that the attacks were also aimed at countering efforts by adversaries to punish Iran over nationwide rallies held in support of its Islamic establishment and in protest against the aggression.

"Attack on Iran's energy infrastructure took the conflict to a new stage. The Islamic Republic did not intend to expand the war to oil facilities and did not wish to harm the economies of friendly and neighboring countries,” the IRGC said.

How did the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps target 80 sites across Israel?

“However, with the enemy's aggression against energy infrastructure, Iran has effectively entered a new stage of the conflict, and the necessity to defend the country's energy infrastructure compelled a retaliatory strike against American-linked energy facilities," the IRGC added.

The IRGC also claimed it had struck as many as 80 military and support targets across Israel, including locations such as Rishon LeZion, Ramla and Lod in the central region, Eilat in the south, and Ramat Gan and Bnei Brak east of Tel Aviv, along with Bat Yam and Holon to the south.

It said the targets were hit using multi-warhead missiles and attack drones.

Issuing a warning to US-Israel forces, the IRGC said, "If this is repeated, subsequent attacks on your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not cease until total destruction, and our response will be far more severe than tonight's strikes."

Iranian state media outlet Press TV reported that suicide drones struck a US military base in Iraq, triggering multiple explosions in Erbil. It also reported explosions at a US military base in Kuwait, sharing updates through a series of posts on X.

How did the Israel Defense Forces respond to missiles launched from Iran?

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera Breaking reported that one person was killed and several others were wounded in an air attack on a paramilitary base in Iraq.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that missiles had been launched from Iran towards Israeli territory and said its defence systems were operating to intercept the threat.

Amid rising tensions in West Asia and the Gulf, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported multiple maritime security incidents.

It said a vessel 11 nautical miles east of Khawr Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire onboard.

Authorities are investigating the incident and vessels have been advised to proceed with caution and report suspicious activity.

In a separate incident, a vessel 4 nautical miles east of Ras Laffan in Qatar was also struck by an unknown projectile. While all crew members were reported safe, UKMTO again urged caution in the area.

The third week of the conflict has seen a significant expansion in the scale of hostilities between US-Israel forces and Tehran.

On Wednesday night, Iran launched retaliatory strikes following an Israeli attack on the South Pars Gas Field.

Iranian strikes also targeted gas infrastructure in Qatar. The country's Ministry of Defence said ballistic missiles hit Ras Laffan Industrial City, causing extensive damage.

The attack marked the second such strike within 12 hours on the world's largest liquefaction facility.

(With inputs from ANI)