U.S. airstrike hits Iran’s Kerman base, killing five IRGC airmen

The U.S. Department of Defense on Tuesday, September 2, carried out another airstrike against targets of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Kerman Province, killing five members of its air unit. U.S. Central Command said the operation was a direct response to the recent attempted attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and to threats against U.S. forces near the Persian Gulf.

In recent weeks, the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which roughly one‑third of global oil exports pass — has seen frequent signs of unidentified missile and naval‑mine attacks. The United States and its allies have accused Iran‑backed IRGC units of using small fast boats and unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct “provocative” actions against passing tankers and container ships, aiming to pressure the international community to lift sanctions. The Department of Defense has repeatedly stated that any threat to U.S. personnel or international shipping will be met with a “proportionate and decisive” military response.

Since the end of 2023, the United States has carried out more than three precision strikes on IRGC‑related facilities within Iran, targeting missile production sites, radar stations and command centers. The Department of Defense said the airstrikes are intended to diminish Iran’s capacity to threaten maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf