Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Jordan on July 12 [1, 2].
These claims follow a period of intense escalation in West Asia, signaling a direct military confrontation between the two nations that threatens regional stability and global shipping lanes.
According to the IRGC, the strikes destroyed a THAAD air-defense system, a Patriot system, a C-RAM system, and an MQ-9 drone depot [1]. The group said the operation was retaliation for a series of U.S. airstrikes carried out inside Iranian territory [1, 5].
The retaliatory claims came after the United States completed its 12th consecutive day of airstrikes within Iran [1, 3]. Reports indicate the U.S. struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets [4].
Casualties from the U.S. operations include one Iranian soldier who died in overnight strikes [3]. Additionally, one person died and two others were injured during U.S. strikes on Iran's Farur Island [6]. In the Strait of Hormuz, more than 10 projectiles hit Qeshm Island [5].
While the IRGC specified the destruction of high-value defense systems in Kuwait and Jordan, other reports regarding the attacks on Gulf states did not specify the exact locations or the specific equipment lost [2]. Other regional news outlets have not independently verified the destruction of the THAAD or Patriot systems [3, 5, 6].
“Iran says it destroyed a THAAD air-defense system, a Patriot system, a C-RAM system, and an MQ-9 drone depot.”
The claims by the IRGC represent a significant escalation in the conflict, as targeting advanced air-defense systems like THAAD and Patriot missiles suggests an attempt to degrade U.S. deterrence capabilities in the region. The focus on Kuwait and Jordan indicates that Iran is willing to expand the theater of war beyond its own borders and the Strait of Hormuz to pressure U.S. allies and installations in the Gulf.
