The 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis, also known as the Iranian–American confrontation,[31] is an increase of military tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the Persian Gulf region.
Quick Facts Date, Location ...
| 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis |
|---|
| Part of the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict |
Clockwise from top: A U.S. B-52H strategic bomber in Qatar in May 2019; A NEDSA boat patrolling near British-flagged tanker Stena Impero; Members of the International Maritime Security Construct in Bahrain; Funeral procession of an Iranian general in Tehran; Alleged remnants of the U.S. Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk drone shot down by Iran; U.S. troops man positions during the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad |
| Date | 5 May 2019 – 20 January 2021 |
|---|
| Location | |
|---|
| Result |
- Western military presence in Persian Gulf increased; formation of the American-led International Maritime Security Construct
- Additional sanctions on Iran imposed
- Assassination of the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani
- Iranian withdrawal from the nuclear deal
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|---|
|
| Belligerents |
|---|
|
United States
CJTF–OIR
 IMSC:
|
Iran
Popular Mobilization Forces[15][16]
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| Commanders and leaders |
|---|
Donald Trump
Mark Esper
Boris Johnson
Ben Wallace
King Salman
Mohammed bin Salman |
Ali Khamenei
Hassan Rouhani
Amir Hatami
Qasem Soleimani X
Falih Al-Fayyadh
Abu al-Muhandis X |
| Strength |
|---|
- 50,000 troops
- 12 F-22 Raptors
- 4 B52 bombers
- 1 carrier strike group
10 Coastal Patrol Craft
- 6 Patrol Boats
- 4 Minesweepers
- 1 amphibious ready group
- 1,200 troops
- 9 Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
- 6 F-35 Lightning
- 2 Type 23 frigate
- 1 Type 45 destroyer
- 1 Astute class submarine
- 4 minehunters
- 1 landing ship
- 1 fast fleet tanker
- 1 destroyer
- 2 patrol planes[19]
|
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NEDSA fast attack craft
1 Mil Mi-17
1 3rd Khordad
1 Tor M1
6-10 Fateh-110/Fateh-313 missiles
5 Qiam 1 missiles
|
| Casualties and losses |
|---|
-
- 3 civilian contractors killed[20]
- 1 sailor dead (non-combat)[21]
- 4 soldiers killed
[22]
- 114 soldiers injured[23][24]
- 1 Black Hawk helicopter destroyed[25]
- 1 RQ-4A Global Hawk surveillance drone downed[26]
- 1 MQ-9 Reaper drone downed
|
|
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- Saudi Arabia: 2 tankers damaged (responsibility disputed)
- Japan: 1 merchant ship damaged (responsibility disputed)
- United Arab Emirates: 1 merchant ship damaged (responsibility disputed)
- Iran: 1 tanker damaged (responsibility disputed)
- 1 Iraqi tanker seized
- United Kingdom: 1 tanker captured by Iran, later released
- 2 merchant ships damaged
- Philippines: 1 small vessel seized, 7 crew members captured[30]
Neutral military personnel -
- Iraq: 5 Iraqi security forces personnel killed[29]
13 Iraqi security forces personnel injured[23][29]
Total: 222 killed
Qasem Soleimani X
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis X |
Close
The U.S. began a buildup of its military presence in the region to push away a possible planned campaign by Iran and its non-state allies to attack American forces and interests in the Persian Gulf and Iraq.
This followed a rise in political tensions between the two countries during the Trump administration, which included the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), creation of new sanctions against Iran, and the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
In response, Iran designated the United States Central Command as a terrorist organization.
