IRGC Claims 560 US Military Personnel Injured or Killed in Iranian Counterattack
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that approximately 560 US military personnel were killed or wounded as a result of Iranian retaliatory strikes against American military bases in the Middle East region, according to a statement released on Sunday (1 March).
“US military bases in Bahrain were struck by two ballistic missiles, and other bases were subjected to relentless attacks, which have thus far resulted in 560 American troops killed or wounded,” the IRGC statement said, according to the Fars news agency.
The official report added that four drone strikes targeted naval bases in Bahrain, causing significant damage to command centres and operational support facilities. The IRGC confirmed that Tehran had targeted the US Ali Al-Salem naval base in Kuwait, disrupting its operations, as well as three other facilities at the Mohammed Al-Ahmad naval base in the same country.
The Iranian military action came in response to US and Israeli strikes launched on Saturday against targets within Iranian territory, including Tehran, which resulted in reports of civilian casualties and damage.
Iranian state television confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had been killed in the strikes.
In response, Iran launched missile strikes against Israeli territory and US military facilities throughout the Middle East, marking the latest escalation in an already tense region.
The Middle East conflict escalation following the American strikes on Iran has triggered a risk-off sentiment in global financial markets. PT Pertamina (Persero) has intensified operational oversight in response to the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East region.
The Strait of Hormuz has once again come under scrutiny following a formal advisory issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to the global maritime community regarding shipping safety.
Russia’s Ministry of Transport reported hundreds of flight cancellations on Russia-Middle East routes due to the security situation. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only 25 per cent of American citizens support the military action against Iran, with concerns over potential fuel price increases and military casualties posing political risks to the Trump administration.