US official says forces intercepted Iranian attacks on regional bases

WASHINGTON, United States — A US official told the New York Times that American forces intercepted all Iranian attacks on US bases in the region, reporting no casualties or damage at the targeted sites. The remarks come amid heightened Middle East tensions following the crash of an Apache helicopter in the Persian Gulf and Washington's accusation that Tehran targeted the aircraft. Defense officials in Bahrain and Kuwait said hostile aerial objects launched from Iranian territory were stopped by their air defense systems, with no casualties or material damage reported in either country. The Jordanian Armed Forces said five missiles fired from Iran toward a base in Az-Zarqa were intercepted, with no injuries or damage from falling debris. Iranian media, citing the Revolutionary Guards, reported that a US base in the Az-Zarqa area of Jordan had been targeted. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had completed defensive air operations against Iran in the early hours, striking air defense facilities, ground control stations and surveillance radars near the Strait of Hormuz. The command said the operation was carried out in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter.