Manama: The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed early Wednesday that it shot down a US MQ-9 drone over southern Bushehr province and launched a drone attack targeting the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. In a statement, the IRGC said the attack on the Bahrain-based fleet came in response to recent American strikes on Jask, Sirik, and Qeshm in southern Iran.

According to Anadolu Agency, the IRGC reported that the US strikes had damaged a telecommunications tower in Sirik and destroyed two water tanks in the city's Bamani district. The IRGC further detailed that its naval forces initiated the drone assault against the US Fifth Fleet at 2:30 am local time.

The statement from the IRGC indicated that the clashes were still ongoing and issued a warning of 'heavier responses' if the attacks persisted. This escalation in conflict came shortly after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) declared the completion of what it referred to as 'self-defense' strikes against Iran.

CENTCOM revealed that US fighter jets had targeted Iranian air defense systems and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. These strikes were carried out in retaliation for the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter in an earlier incident.