The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced early Sunday that it fired anti-ship ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and another warship, claiming the strike caused damage and forced the vessels to retreat. CENTCOM confirmed that missiles were launched at US Navy ships but denied any damage, stating that the carrier and accompanying vessel successfully evaded the attack. The conflicting accounts remain unresolved, with no independent verification of damage.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced early Sunday that it launched anti-ship ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and an accompanying warship, claiming the strike caused damage and forced the vessels to flee the combat zone. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that missiles were fired at U.S. Navy ships but denied any damage, stating that the carrier and escort successfully evaded the attack. No independent verification of damage is available.
The incident follows a similar exchange on Saturday evening, when the IRGC fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyer. CENTCOM confirmed that attack and retaliated by disabling three IRGC oil tankers near Kharg Island, Jask, and in the Sea of Oman, as The Zioneer reported. Saturday's CENTCOM commander warned, "If you fire on our two ships, we will destroy three of yours."
The latest missile launch comes amid the highest state of alert for the IRGC, which raised its combat readiness to maximum last week and warned regional states hosting U.S. forces of "total destruction" of their assets if they facilitate American operations. Conflicting claims over the outcome of the attack remain unresolved; CENTCOM has not reported any U.S. casualties or damage.
3 developments
- DevelopingIRGC claims ballistic missile strike on US forces departing Bahrain
- DevelopingIRGC claims it fired SAM at US F-16 over Persian Gulf, forcing it to withdraw
- DevelopingIranian Guards Fire Warning Shots at US Warships in Gulf of Oman
- DevelopingFootage from Zanjan appears to show IRGC ballistic missile launches toward US bases in Gulf
Source and signal
- Open-source intake