The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has escalated its retaliation against the United States and Israel, announcing a major wave of missile and drone strikes targeting 27 U.S. military bases across the Middle East, along with prominent Israeli military installations. This comes in direct response to the joint U.S.-Israeli operation (Operation Epic Fury) that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026.
According to Iranian state media and IRGC Statement No. 6 (released March 1, 2026), the attacks — part of the sixth wave of “Operation True Promise 4” — represent the most intense offensive in the history of Iran’s armed forces. The IRGC described the strikes as “extensive” and vowed they mark only the initial phase, promising “a different and harsh step of revenge, with successive, regrettable slaps” to ensure air raid sirens remain active in targeted areas.
Key Targets Claimed by the IRGC
- 27 U.S. military bases in the region (spanning Gulf states like Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others hosting coalition forces, including Al Udeid, Al Dhafra, Fifth Fleet HQ, and Ali Al Salem).
- Tel Nof Airbase (a major Israeli Air Force facility south of Tel Aviv, known for housing advanced aircraft and strategic assets).
- Israeli Army Command Headquarters at HaKirya in Tel Aviv (the central military complex housing the IDF’s General Staff and Ministry of Defense).
- Major defense industrial complex in Tel Aviv (likely referring to facilities tied to Israel’s defense industry, missile production, or R&D hubs).
The IRGC emphasized the use of ballistic missiles and drones in these coordinated barrages, framing the operation as payback for the “criminal aggression” that eliminated Khamenei at his Tehran compound and struck other high-value Iranian targets.