Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned countries hosting U.S. forces of possible retaliation after Iranian authorities reported that civilian deaths from recent U.S. strikes had risen to 50, with more than 500 people injured.
According to Al Jazeera on July 18, 2026, the IRGC accused the United States of resuming what it described as an unfinished war after Washington withdrew from a memorandum. The group claimed U.S. actions during negotiations represented military escalation rather than diplomacy.
“The criminal U.S. regime… has officially resumed a war that it never truly ended,” the IRGC said.
The IRGC also alleged that U.S. strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, bridges, railways, airports, ports and communication facilities, rather than only military sites. Those claims have not been independently verified.
Quoting Quran 2:194, the group said it was prepared to respond proportionately and warned countries hosting U.S. forces involved in operations against Iran to activate civil defense measures in anticipation of a “corresponding response.”
The IRGC added that it had “temporarily” chosen to focus on military targets, saying the move provided the United States with an opportunity to change its approach. The latest developments have heightened concerns about a broader regional conflict.
