Iran strikes US bases, downs MQ-9 drone as US kills more Iranian civilians
Tehran expands retaliatory operations after eighth consecutive night of US attacks, while Iranian officials say Washington's air strikes continue to inflict civilian casualties and devastate infrastructure
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Iran launched fresh retaliatory attacks against United States military installations in the Gulf and announced the downing of an American MQ-9 reconnaissance drone on Sunday, as Washington pressed ahead with an eighth consecutive night of airstrikes widely condemned for targeting Iranian territory and causing mounting civilian casualties.
Iranian military officials said the latest phase of Operation Thunderbolt targeted American military facilities in Kuwait using combat drones.
The strikes reportedly hit an ammunition depot at Camp Adairi as well as equipment storage and logistical facilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
In a statement, the Iranian Army described the operation as a direct response to continuous US aggression, repeated violations of international law and attacks that have claimed the lives of civilians across Iran.
Officials vowed that military operations would continue as long as Washington maintained its offensive.
The announcement followed similar Iranian strikes against American military positions in Kuwait and Jordan carried out a day earlier as Tehran intensified its campaign against US forces stationed across the region.
Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Iranian air defense units successfully shot down an American MQ-9 surveillance drone over the southwestern city of Ahvaz, marking another setback for the US military as fighting continues to escalate.
The IRGC also released footage showing the launch of multiple ballistic missiles, including Kheibar Shekan, Zolfaghar, Fateh-110 and Haj Qassem missiles, alongside Shahed drones, during successive phases of its ongoing military operations.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Health Ministry reported a growing humanitarian toll from the renewed American bombing campaign. Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said US attacks carried out between June 27 and July 18 had killed more than 50 people and wounded over 500 others.
According to the ministry, the victims include women, children and teenagers, underscoring what Iranian authorities describe as the indiscriminate nature of the American strikes.
Officials said dozens of women and minors remain among the injured, while hospitals have performed numerous emergency surgeries on victims of the attacks. Although hundreds have been discharged, several patients remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
Despite the mounting civilian toll, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had launched another wave of strikes overnight under orders from President Donald Trump.
The US military claimed the attacks targeted Iranian coastal surveillance systems, air defense installations, maritime capabilities and missile and drone storage facilities, as well as IRGC units it accused of attacking American forces in Jordan.
The continued US assault has drawn increasing international concern over the widening humanitarian consequences of the conflict, with critics accusing Washington of pursuing a military campaign that has inflicted severe damage on civilian lives and infrastructure while pushing the region closer to a broader and potentially catastrophic war.
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