Did the IRGC of Iran launch missile and drone attacks on the US 5th Fleet base in Bahrain? US CENTCOM discloses the 'facts.'

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran has announced that it conducted an attack on the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, as well as an airbase and helicopters, utilizing drones and missiles. This operation was reportedly a response to what the IRGC characterized as a U.S. assault on a communications tower located south of Qeshm Island. Additionally, the IRGC claimed responsibility for targeting a vessel named Panaya with missiles, following a U.S. attack on an Iranian tanker near the Strait of Hormuz that allegedly damaged the engine room. The IRGC warned that any disruption to the security of the Strait of Hormuz would result in significant consequences for the U.S. military.

In contrast, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has categorically denied the IRGC's assertions regarding the attacks on U.S. facilities. CENTCOM stated that all incoming threats were effectively intercepted or neutralized, and that no U.S. installations were hit during the alleged strikes. In a post on X, CENTCOM labeled the IRGC's claims as "FALSE," emphasizing that all Iranian attacks on American forces had failed and reaffirming the readiness of U.S. forces to defend against any unwarranted aggression from Iran.

In a related development, the U.S. military reported that it had targeted and "disabled an unladen oil tanker" that was heading towards Iran, as part of its ongoing naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, a U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile at the engine room of the Botswana-flagged M/T vessel after its crew allegedly ignored multiple warnings. This action underscores the heightened tensions in the region and the U.S. commitment to enforcing its maritime security measures.

The blockade, which began on April 12, aims to regulate all vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports. CENTCOM indicated that it had enforced blockade measures against the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie as it navigated international waters towards Kharg Island. The U.S. military noted that the ship's crew had repeatedly failed to comply with directives from U.S. forces over a 24-hour period.

Since the implementation of the blockade, CENTCOM reported that as many as six commercial vessels have been disabled, while an additional 122 have been redirected. These developments reflect the ongoing maritime tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as both nations continue to assert their military capabilities in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.