Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed on Friday, 17 July that it carried out retaliatory strikes targeting a US special operations command centre in Syria, American weapons depots and HIMARS launchers in Kuwait, and radar installations in Oman, according to Iranian state media. The strikes were described as part of the 11th, 12th, and 13th waves of what the IRGC has designated Operation Nasr-2.

Key Developments in Operation Nasr-2

According to the IRGC's statement, the 11th wave was dedicated to soldiers killed in Bampur in Iranshahr, and involved what the Corps described as a 'surprise strike' on the US special forces command centre in Syria's al-Tanf region, as reported by Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

A separate statement from the IRGC's Public Relations Department said Iranian forces struck a missile defence surveillance radar, several US weapons depots, two HIMARS launchers, and a number of missiles in Kuwait, reportedly causing a large fire at a base hosting US troops. The IRGC subsequently claimed its forces also attacked and destroyed a naval surveillance radar at the Salmah Plateau and a US air surveillance radar in the Ghanam area of Oman.

Kuwait's Air Defences Respond

The Kuwaiti Army confirmed that its air defences were actively intercepting incoming missile and drone strikes following Iran's action. In a post on X, the Kuwaiti Army stated: 'Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks following the sinful Iranian aggression. The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks. Everyone is kindly requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities.' Authorities urged residents to follow official safety instructions.

Earlier Strikes on Bahrain and Jordan

This latest wave follows strikes the IRGC claimed to have conducted on Wednesday against US military facilities in Bahrain and Jordan. The Corps said its Aerospace Force targeted the US military base at al-Azraq in Jordan, claiming to have destroyed aircraft shelters housing F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets along with several MQ-9 strategic drones.

The IRGC alleged that a significant volume of US military strikes against Iran were launched from bases in Jordan, and called on Jordanians to end the presence of US forces in their country. Separately, the IRGC said its navy struck the US Fifth Fleet's facilities in Bahrain, targeting what it described as the NSI management centre, large military warehouses, a command and control centre, and fuel storage facilities, according to IRNA.

The Strait of Hormuz Context

The IRGC said the Bahrain strikes were carried out in response to the US deploying naval forces in the Indian Ocean and blocking maritime routes under the pretext of controlling the Strait of Hormuz. The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and is one of the world's most critical energy corridors, carrying oil and liquefied natural gas exports from major Gulf producers to global markets.

All claims of damage and destruction are based solely on IRGC statements and have not been independently verified. The situation remains fast-moving, with further escalation possible as the US and its Gulf partners assess the reported strikes.