Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Wednesday that it had launched a large-scale joint missile and drone operation targeting key US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, describing the strikes as the first phase of its response to Washington's latest aggression against the Islamic Republic.

In a statement issued by its Public Relations Office, the IRGC said its naval and aerospace forces carried out coordinated attacks on the US military's Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, as well as the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Juffair and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

The IRGC said the operation came in direct retaliation for extensive US attacks carried out earlier against multiple locations across Iran, warning that any further American military action would trigger broader strikes against US bases throughout the region.

"The operation marks the first stage of our response to America's repeated violations of its commitments and its aggression against the Islamic Republic," the statement said, adding that "if US aggression continues, our response will expand to all American military positions in the region."

The Iranian response followed what officials described as one of the most extensive American attacks on Iranian territory in recent years.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Tehran reported that the latest US assault represented the largest wave of attacks since the signing of the recent memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, with the heaviest bombardment focusing on Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran.

Iranian media reported that US strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including two commercial piers and a maritime navigation control tower at Chabahar Port. Shrapnel from the attacks also struck Imam Ali Hospital, raising concerns over the safety of civilians and medical facilities.

Additional American strikes were reported in Bushehr Province, Sirik, Jask, Abu Musa Island, and transport infrastructure in northern Iran.

According to the IRGC, US forces also targeted two strategic bridges in eastern Iran leading toward Mashhad, accusing Washington of deliberately attempting to disrupt the funeral procession and national farewell ceremonies for Iran's martyred leader.

The IRGC said its retaliatory operation was launched only hours after the US attacks.

Iranian media subsequently reported explosions near several American military facilities across the Gulf.

Mehr News Agency said loud blasts were heard near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, while Tasnim News Agency reported powerful explosions around US military installations in Kuwait.

Reports also indicated that warning sirens were activated at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which hosts US forces, amid fears that the confrontation could spread across the region.

Iranian officials stressed that Wednesday's strikes were only the beginning of Tehran's response should Washington continue its military campaign.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the United States must recognize that "bullying and violating commitments are no longer without consequences."

"If you strike, you will be struck back," he declared, warning that Iran possesses the capability and determination to target American military assets throughout West Asia.

Ghalibaf also reiterated Iran's position on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying its security and navigation would be managed according to "Iranian arrangements," rather than through American military pressure.

The latest exchange marks another dangerous escalation in regional tensions, fueled by continued US military operations and unwavering American support for Israel's military campaigns in Gaza and across the region. Analysts warn that the expanding confrontation risks drawing additional countries into a wider conflict, with potentially severe consequences for regional stability and international energy security. (ILKHA)