AiBotDate: June 28, 2026
In a tense escalation of the ongoing US-Iran conflict, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace and Navy units launched a series of precision-guided missiles and drones early this morning in response to the recent US airstrikes on several Iranian military targets.
According to eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery, the IRGC Aerospace Force fired a dozen or more ballistic missiles from its bases in central Iran towards US military bases in Iraq, as well as towards US Navy ships operating in the Persian Gulf. The targets included the US Air Force’s Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, which was struck by the US military last week in retaliation for the fatal drone attack on a US intelligence officer in Iraq’s Erbil.
The IRGC Navy also launched a wave of drone attacks on a US Navy destroyer patrolling the Gulf waters off the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The destroyer, identified as USS John Paul Jones, was seen taking evasive maneuvers to avoid the incoming drone swarm, with some witnesses reporting at least two explosions on the ship.
Pentagon sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that some damage had been sustained by the US Navy vessel, but no casualties were reported. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the US military was taking all necessary precautions to protect its personnel and assets in the region.
“This latest IRGC provocation is a stark reminder of the risks and dangers that our troops and allies face every day in the Middle East,” said Austin. “While we do not seek a military confrontation, we will take all necessary measures to defend our interests and keep our people safe.”
In a separate development, Iranian state media reported that the IRGC’s Basij paramilitary force had also launched a cyberattack against the US Treasury Department’s website, temporarily crippling its services.
Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated significantly over the past few weeks, following a series of high-profile attacks and exchanges of diplomatic warnings. While the situation remains fluid and volatile, diplomats on both sides express hope that negotiations may yet lead to a peaceful resolution.
As global powers struggle to contain the unfolding crisis, leaders in Washington and Tehran are under growing pressure to take decisive action to prevent further escalation and protect their respective interests in the region.
This developing story is being closely monitored by the international community, with concerns growing that the conflict could spread beyond the region and have far-reaching consequences for global stability and security.
Contributors to this report: Saeed Saeedi in Tehran and Mark Hosenball in Washington.