IRGC Attacks US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain in Retaliation for Aggression in Sirik

Tensions in the Gulf region reached boiling point after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had launched a drone strike against the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain on Wednesday morning (10/6). The attack is claimed as a direct response to Washington’s military operations, which previously struck several sovereign Iranian sites around the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC accused the US military of committing aggression that damaged civilian infrastructure in southern Iran.

‘The war-mongering US regime attacked several points in Jask, Sirik, and Qeshm this morning under false pretences. The attack damaged a telecommunications pole in Sirik and destroyed two water tanks,’ read an official IRGC statement as reported by AFP on Wednesday (10/6).

This escalation began when US President Donald Trump accused Iran of being responsible for the downing of a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter on Monday (8/6). The advanced helicopter was reported to have crashed whilst on patrol in the strategic Strait of Hormuz area. Although Trump confirmed that both helicopter crew members survived, he asserted that the US must deliver a firm response. This prompted US air strikes on the port area of Sirik on Tuesday (9/6), which were subsequently retaliated against by the IRGC targeting US military assets in Bahrain.

The IRGC warned that it would not hesitate to carry out larger operations if the United States continues its military activities deemed to threaten Iran’s national security. Since the conflict broke out on 28 February, Iran claims to have successfully shot down around 30 US MQ-9 Reaper drones. However, the incident involving the downing of the AH-64 Apache helicopter is in the spotlight as it is the first case involving the Pentagon’s deadliest type of attack helicopter in the ongoing conflict. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains on high alert, given that the route is a vital artery for global oil shipments.