ISTANBUL, July 12 — The United Arab Emirates said early Sunday that its air defence systems intercepted incoming Iranian missiles and drones, as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it targeted a US military base in Jordan, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said air defences were actively “engaging” incoming missiles and drones from Iran, adding that explosions heard across the country were caused by defence systems intercepting the projectiles.
In neighbouring Qatar, the Interior Ministry said the security threat level was high and urged people to remain inside their homes or other safe places. It also urged residents to follow official safety instructions and avoid unnecessary movement.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said air raid sirens had been activated, urging the public to remain calm.
“Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” it said.
Separately, the IRGC said it had targeted a US military base in Jordan, claiming it destroyed the command and control centre and MQ-9 drone hangars at Prince Hassan Air Base in response to what it described as US attacks.
In a statement released by the IRGC’s Public Relations office, the force accused the US of attempting to “impose its will” on Oman by encouraging several vessels to take an “illegal course” through the southern Strait of Hormuz, saying the move was met with “a decisive response” from the Iranian navy.
The IRGC also said the US military later carried out airstrikes.
It said the IRGC Aerospace Force then launched the first phase of its retaliation against US military positions.
“In the first phase of this response, they targeted critical military infrastructure and facilities at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, destroying the base’s command and control centre and the hangars for MQ9 drones with several ballistic missiles,” said the statement.
The US launched a third round of strikes targeting radar, missile and drone sites across southern Iran.
The attacks came after Iran opened fire on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and announced the closure of the strategic waterway until further notice, with one crew member missing, according to CENTCOM.
