A senior spokesman for Iran’s armed forces warned on Tuesday that any renewed US or Israeli strikes on Iran would be met with a “heavier” and “stronger” retaliation.
“If the region enters another round of war, Iran’s response will extend beyond regional borders and will be much heavier and stronger,” Abolfazl Shekarchi said in remarks carried by Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars.
The Iran response followed The US said on Monday that it carried out a series of what it called “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran targeting missile launchers and boats that were allegedly laying mines.
There have been several skirmishes since the six-week-old ceasefire was signed, but Monday’s strikes took place just as Iranian negotiators arrived in Qatar for talks on ending the war, in a move which may threaten to upend any agreement. It comes at a time when Israel is threatening to increase its attacks on Lebanon, moves which are likely to risk an end to the fragile ceasefire. Iran is demanding an end to the war across the entire region.
“US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement to Fox News.
“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” added Hawkins.
Hawkins did not offer additional details on the attacks, but Iranian media reported earlier Monday that explosions were heard in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas and in areas near Sirik and Jask along the Gulf coast.
US and Israeli aircraft struck Iranian vessels south of Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, killing “several Iranian nationals,” Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.
While the outlet did not confirm the exact number of dead, some media reports said four people were killed in the strikes.
The reports came amid an ongoing ceasefire between the US and Iran that halted the war, which started with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and was followed by Iranian retaliation. – AA
