The exercises, which included long-range ballistic missiles and drones, sent two US bases in Qatar and the UAE on high alert.
“At approximately 5:30 am local time, Iran launched several ballistic missiles from Iran to the southern Arabian Gulf. The initial assessment indicated a potential threat to Al Udeid Air Base and Al Dhafra Air Base,” said Captain Bill Urban, spokesperson for the United States. Central Command, which oversees US military missions throughout the region. “As a precaution, both bases enacted a high alert status. The incident lasted a few minutes and everything was declared clear after the threat indicator had passed.”
Al Udeid and Al Dhafra staff were ordered to cover for several minutes until everything was clear. No missile approached the area, authorities said.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a high point of tension between the US and Iran since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal in 2018. About 20% of the world’s oil traded passes through the waterway. strategic.
“We cannot talk about what Iran hopes to gain by building this model, or what tactical value they hope to gain by using that model in a training setting or offensive exercise,” said Commander Rebecca Rebarich, spokeswoman for the United States’ Fifth Fleet. , based in Bahrain. “We continue to trust in the ability of our naval forces to defend against any maritime threat.”
Iranian military spokesman, Brigadier General Abbas Niliforoushan, said the drills promoted “combat readiness” with the aim of safeguarding air and sea routes and providing support and “preparedness for every scenario.”
The exercise comes days after a U.S. fighter jet flew a few thousand feet from an Iranian commercial jet over Syria to inspect it. The United States said the passenger plan had flown out of a normal commercial flight corridor.
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