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The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, or IRIAF, reportedly carried out airstrikes against U.S. bases in Gulf countries and Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on Sunday, marking a major escalation as Tehran deployed its fighter jets offensively for the first time in the conflict.
"A few minutes ago, pilots of the air forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran successfully bombed U.S. bases in the countries of the Persian Gulf and in the Kurdistan region of Iraq over several phases of operations," Iran's army said in a statement carried by state television.
The use of Iranian fighter jets represents a significant escalation beyond the ballistic missiles and drones that Tehran had employed in its retaliatory campaign since Saturday.
The air force strikes reportedly targeted U.S. military installations in Gulf states and the KRG of Iraq, where U.S.-led coalition troops are stationed near Erbil airport.
The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) also announced that its air defense targeted and destroyed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, described as a "highly advanced aircraft belonging to the terrorist American army", using "advanced modern defense systems under the control of the country's integrated air defense network" in Iran's southern region.
The conflict, now entering its second day, shows no signs of de-escalation, with strikes continuing across the Middle East from Tehran to the Gulf states to Israel.
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