Iran's IRGC vows to respond to U.S. strike, state broadcaster reported

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned of a decisive response following a recent U.S. airstrike on Iranian-backed militia positions in eastern Syria, according to state-run media. The warning came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior officials condemning the strike as a violation of sovereignty. Meanwhile, U.S. officials reported that Iran launched a retaliatory missile and drone attack on American forces stationed in Jordan, though early assessments indicated minimal impact as most projectiles were intercepted by allied air defenses.

The IRGC’s vow to respond came hours after the U.S. conducted precision strikes targeting facilities linked to Iran’s Quds Force in Deir ez-Zor province. The operation was reportedly in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers at a base in eastern Syria earlier this month. Iranian state television broadcast statements from IRGC commanders vowing to avenge the deaths, framing the U.S. action as an act of aggression. The Pentagon confirmed the interception of numerous incoming threats near U.S. outposts in Jordan but stated there were no reports of casualties or significant damage as of late Sunday.

Tensions have surged in the region following the deadly attack on Tower 22, a remote U.S. outpost in northeastern Jordan, which Washington has attributed to Iran-backed militias. The strike killed three American personnel and wounded more than 40, prompting the U.S. to launch its largest military response in the Middle East since the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The IRGC and allied groups in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly targeted U.S. forces over the past year, citing opposition to American military presence in the region.

Regional observers warn that further escalation could destabilize already fragile security conditions across Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has reiterated its commitment to protecting personnel and interests, while calling on regional partners to help de-escalate the crisis. Iran’s foreign ministry has also accused the U.S. of escalating tensions through military provocations, calling for international condemnation of the latest strikes.

As of early Monday, air defenses in Jordan and Iraq remained on high alert. The IRGC has not specified the timing or method of its promised retaliation, leaving regional governments and global powers monitoring the situation closely for signs of further confrontation.

#Iran #IRGC #USStrike #Jordan #Syria #AyatollahKhamenei #U.S.Forces #MiddleEast