Iran's military said on Monday it had launched dozens of explosive drones at US troops and helicopters stationed at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, in retaliation for a US strike on Iran's Larak Island.
The Iranian army said the attack targeted locations housing US military personnel and helicopters at the base, which it described as an important logistics and air transport hub for foreign forces, according to Iranian news agencies.
The army vowed further retaliation against US troops, saying the operation was in response to the killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard members and civilians in Sunday's US strike.
The Guards separately said on Monday that it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz with missile fire, causing it to crash into Gulf waters, according to Iran's Mehr News Agency.
The developments followed US strikes on two Iranian launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, marking the first US strikes on Iranian territory since late July, a US official told Axios.
The operation targeted systems that were allegedly being prepared to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
The Guards said several of its fighters and civilians were killed or injured in the attack and vowed to respond. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that preliminary information indicated the US attack was carried out by drones.
Pezeshkian vows response
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Tehran was not seeking war but would not remain silent in the face of aggression.
Speaking before departing for Bishkek to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Pezeshkian said Iran would give a decisive response to any further attacks, according to Fars news agency.
"Instability and unrest in the region are not in the interest of any country and will challenge everyone," he said.
The latest exchanges come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran threatening further retaliation following the US operation on Larak Island.
