{"id":65171,"date":"2026-07-21T16:08:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/irgc-claims-destruction-of-u-s-radar-systems-at-kuwaits-ali-al-salem-base\/65171\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:08:13","slug":"irgc-claims-destruction-of-u-s-radar-systems-at-kuwaits-ali-al-salem-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/irgc-claims-destruction-of-u-s-radar-systems-at-kuwaits-ali-al-salem-base\/65171\/","title":{"rendered":"IRGC Claims Destruction of U.S. Radar Systems at Kuwait\u2019s Ali Al-Salem Base"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>IRGC forces claim the &quot;complete destruction&quot; of U.S. early-warning and tactical radar systems<\/strong> at the <strong>Ali Al-Salem Air Base<\/strong> in Kuwait during a multi-wave drone and missile strike.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Operation Nasr 2<\/strong> has expanded to target critical infrastructure, including an <strong>MQ-9 Reaper<\/strong> drone hangar and aviation equipment warehouses, according to Iranian state media <strong>IRNA<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global energy markets<\/strong> are reacting to the escalation, with <strong>Brent Crude<\/strong> prices surging past <strong>$90 per barrel<\/strong> as the conflict threatens the stability of the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Kuwaiti military<\/strong> confirmed the activation of air defense sirens and reported interceptions, though they have not yet confirmed the extent of the damage claimed by Tehran.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)<\/strong> announced on <strong>July 21, 2026<\/strong>, that its aerospace forces successfully targeted and destroyed several <strong>U.S. radar installations<\/strong> at the <strong>Ali Al-Salem Air Base<\/strong> in Kuwait. According to a statement carried by the state-run news agency <strong>IRNA<\/strong>, the strike utilized high-precision drones to disable an early-warning radar system and a tactical radar complex. This operation is part of the second phase of the 24th wave of <strong>Operation Nasr 2<\/strong>, a retaliatory campaign launched by Tehran following sustained U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iranian territory.<\/p>\n<p>The IRGC further claimed that the attack severely impacted U.S. aerial capabilities in the region by striking a hangar housing <strong>MQ-9 Reaper<\/strong> drones, manufactured by General Atomics. Reports indicate that several unmanned aerial vehicles were set ablaze, and a warehouse containing critical aviation spare parts was destroyed. These strikes on Kuwaiti soil\u2014a key logistics hub for U.S. Central Command (<strong>CENTCOM<\/strong>) operations\u2014mark a significant escalation in the horizontal expansion of the conflict, which has already seen exchanges in Bahrain, Jordan, and the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Financial markets are closely monitoring the impact on defense contractors and energy supplies. Shares of major defense firms like Raytheon (<strong>RTX<\/strong> (<a href=\"\/stock\/RTX\">RTX<\/a>)) and Lockheed Martin (<strong>LMT<\/strong> (<a href=\"\/stock\/LMT\">LMT<\/a>)), which provide the <strong>Patriot<\/strong> air defense systems and radar arrays used in the region, are seeing increased volatility as the efficacy of regional missile shields is called into question. <em>Analysts suggest that if Iranian claims of &quot;completely destroyed&quot; radar systems are verified, it could signal a shift in the regional power balance and necessitate a massive reinvestment in Gulf air defense infrastructure.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Geopolitical tensions have pushed <strong>Brent Crude<\/strong> prices above the <strong>$90<\/strong> threshold, with some market strategists warning of a potential spike to <strong>$150<\/strong> if the maritime blockade of the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> persists. The <strong>U.S. military<\/strong> has reportedly escorted nearly <strong>900 commercial vessels<\/strong> through the waterway since May, but the IRGC&#39;s latest actions suggest a move toward targeting the land-based &quot;eyes&quot; of the U.S. fleet. As of Tuesday afternoon, <strong>CENTCOM<\/strong> has acknowledged the ongoing hostilities but has not provided a detailed damage assessment of the facilities at <strong>Ali Al-Salem<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways IRGC forces claim the &quot;complete destruction&quot; of U.S. early-warning and tactical radar systems at the Ali Al-Salem Air 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