Iran claims attacking US base in Syria, targets others
Iranian military on Monday attacked an American military base in Syria.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that the American military base in an area in western Hasakah province of Syria was targeted.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against US military strikes on its nuclear facilities, with officials refusing to rule out targeting American bases across the Middle East. The escalating tensions follow a new wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel, which prompted prolonged air raid sirens and significant disruptions in the region.
Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s deputy minister of foreign affairs for education and research, told Al Jazeera that Iran reserves the right to respond to US attacks on its nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, which he described as a “grave mistake” violating international law.
“Iran will decide on how, when, and at which level to respond to [the] Americans,” Khatibzadeh said, leaving open the possibility of strikes on US military installations.
The US attacks, which President Donald Trump claimed “obliterated” the nuclear facilities, have drawn sharp condemnation from Tehran.
Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iran’s new armed forces chief of staff, accused the US of violating Iran’s sovereignty and entering the conflict “clearly and directly.”
He warned that Iran’s military is now “freed to take any action against [US] interests and military,” signalling a potential expansion of the conflict.
Simultaneously, Iran launched its 21st wave of Operation True Promise 3 against Israel, deploying advanced Kheibar Shekan, Emad, Ghadr, and Fattah ballistic missiles, alongside drones equipped with anti-fortification warheads.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the strikes targeted strategic sites across Israel, from northern regions to the Gaza envelope. Israeli media reported at least seven impact sites, including a strike near a “strategic infrastructure facility” in southern Israel, which caused power outages for approximately 8,000 households.
Sirens blared across Israel for over 30 minutes, marking the longest continuous alert in the conflict. In Jerusalem, Knesset lawmakers suspended sessions and sought shelter in bunkers as missile barrages hit multiple areas, including Tel Aviv, Ashdod, and Lachish. Israeli authorities confirmed diverting flights from Ben Gurion Airport due to the attacks.
Israel responded with extensive air raids on Iran, targeting IRGC command centres, six airports, and military infrastructure, including Tehran’s Mehrabad airport.
Strikes also hit civilian sites, such as a technical building for state television, the entrance to Evin Prison, and Shahid Beheshti University. Iran’s Ministry of Health reported over 400 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel confirmed 24 fatalities from Iranian projectiles.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi reiterated warnings against attacking nuclear facilities, citing severe radiation risks.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed hope for “practical steps” from Russia at the UN Security Council, which held its third emergency meeting on the crisis Monday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate halt to hostilities, while the IAEA’s Board of Governors convened to address the nuclear site attacks.
Iranian lawmakers are considering withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and suspending IAEA cooperation, a decision pending approval from the Supreme National Security Council. Discussions about closing the Strait of Hormuz have also surfaced, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
The Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen have threatened to resume maritime attacks if the US escalates further, despite a May agreement with Trump to pause hostilities. Meanwhile, Iranian media celebrated the missile strikes, with ultraconservative Keyhan proclaiming, “Iranian Kheibar Shekans set Israel ablaze.” Reformist outlets like Ham-Mihan criticized Trump’s “bullying diplomacy,” while Shargh highlighted the civilian toll of Israeli raids.
As both sides brace for further escalation, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated that Israel “must be punished,” while the IRGC vowed to continue operations “until the complete removal of the Israeli entity.” The region remains on edge as the international community scrambles to contain the spiralling conflict.
