US Justifies Attack on Iran as Self-Defense

ILLUSTRATION DOK U.S. Central Command

JAKARTA - The United States claims that it carried out a series of attacks as a "self-defense" attack in southern Iran by targeting missile launchers and ships that were allegedly laying mines.

"US forces conducted a defensive attack in southern Iran today to protect our forces from the threat posed by Iranian forces," said US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins, in a statement to Fox News reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 26.

Hawkins explained that his party targeted the location of the missile launch and Iranian ships that tried to install mines. Hawkins emphasized that the US Central Command continued to defend the troops while refraining during the ongoing ceasefire.

CENTCOM did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the statement.

Hawkins did not provide additional details about the attack, but Iranian media reported earlier on Monday that explosions were heard in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas and in areas near Sirik and Jask along the Gulf coast.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said local residents in Bandar Abbas reported hearing several explosions, adding the exact location and source of the explosions were still unclear.

The news agency also reported that similar sounds were heard simultaneously in the areas around Sirik and Jask in southern Iran facing the Persian Gulf.