Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that its aerospace force had targeted a US air defence radar station in Bahrain in a drone attack in the preceding hours.

The attack, carried out with six drones against the radar system at the Al-Riffa helicopter base, marked the second phase of the “decisive and crushing” retaliatory response to the US Army’s “flagrant aggression” against Iran, the IRGC said in a statement posted on its official news outlet Sepah News.

It added that the United States, “which has faced complete failure in its plan to smuggle oil in the Strait of Hormuz under the guise of escorting ships,” is now attempting to divert global public attention through “small and misguided” actions from the reality that the strait is closed.

“Any aggression by the US enemy will be met with a harsher and more crushing response,” the IRGC added.

Also on Sunday, the IRGC Navy said that two “violating” oil tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through an “unauthorised” route had exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The oil tankers had turned off their navigation and automatic identification systems and attempted to transit the waterway “stealthily,” the navy said in a statement.

Two other tankers that intended to cross the strait “surreptitiously” changed course and returned to the Persian Gulf waters after receiving warnings from the IRGC Navy’s maritime traffic control in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, the navy of Iran’s IRGC said that two “violating” oil tankers exploded and caught fire within the preceding hour after hitting naval mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through an “unauthorised” route.

In a statement on the IRGC’s official news outlet Sepah News Friday night (local time), the navy identified one vessel as a supertanker and said both had turned off their radar and navigation systems.

It warned shipowners and shipping companies that the same fate awaits those vessels trying to pass through the strait without coordination with its traffic-control centre and in disregard of Iranian regulations.

Israel’s Caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his call for a national unity government, warning that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear program and that only a broad coalition could eliminate the threat to Israel.

In a prerecorded address on Saturday (local time), Netanyahu urged his political rival Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel’s next government, to enter coalition negotiations without preconditions.

“The Iranian regime, which seeks Israel’s destruction, is once again working to revive its nuclear program,” Netanyahu said. “We must remove this existential threat once and for all.”

Netanyahu said a national unity government could guarantee Israel’s security for years to come and expand regional peace agreements.

The remarks followed a security briefing Netanyahu held with Eisenkot on Thursday.

Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October election. Eisenkot, a former military chief, was given 28 days by President Isaac Herzog to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government takes office.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu called for the formation of a national unity government, asserting that the country must remain united in the face of what he described as a growing threat from Iran.

Speaking after the first session of Israel’s newly elected parliament, Netanyahu warned that the country could soon come under intense international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran and the continuation of its current regime, which he accused of posing an existential threat to Israel.

“In the very near future, we’re going to be confronted by international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran and the preservation of this terror regime that seeks to annihilate us,” Netanyahu said.

However, his remarks drew an immediate and strong reaction from former Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief Gadi Eisenkot, who accused the caretaker Prime Minister of using an important state occasion to further his political interests. Describing Netanyahu’s speech as “shameful”, Eisenkot questioned his suitability to continue holding office.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed hope that her personal circumstances would not come in the way of bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh, highlighting the longstanding historical ties and shared strategic interests between the two countries.

Speaking exclusively to media, Hasina said that ties between the two countries should not be held hostage to political differences surrounding any individual.

“I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the decisions of the Indian government. India is a sovereign country. It has its own laws and procedures, and its government will decide accordingly. But I certainly hope my personal situation will not become an obstacle to relations between Bangladesh and India. Our relations go back to the Liberation War of 1971. We share a long border, a common history, and important interests in trade, energy, connectivity and security. These relations are far too important to be held hostage to political disagreements involving any individual,” the former PM stated.

Hasina said that both the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and the ruling BNP administration had repeatedly called for her return to Bangladesh.

She further questioned why her decision to return voluntarily should now invite objections.

“Both the Yunus administration and the present government have repeatedly demanded my return to Bangladesh. Now, I have decided to return myself. So, why should there be any objection?” the former PM told media in a rare audio interview.

When asked about preserving India-Bangladesh ties amid Dhaka’s attempts to link bilateral relations to her extradition, Hasina said she did not think it would be appropriate for her to comment on India’s diplomatic policy or suggest what Prime Minister Narendra Modi should do.

“I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on India’s diplomatic policy or suggest what Prime Minister Modi should do. The Awami League has always believed in maintaining good relations with our neighbours while protecting Bangladesh’s sovereignty and national interests. During our time, we strengthened relations with India while also working closely with China, Japan, the United States and other countries,” she mentioned.

Hasina emphasised that lasting bilateral cooperation between New Delhi and Dhaka required a representative government in Bangladesh with democratic legitimacy and broad public support, rather than one that excluded significant sections of the population from the political process.

“I also believe that lasting relations between Bangladesh and India require democratic legitimacy and public confidence. A genuinely representative government provides a stronger foundation for cooperation than one that excludes a large section of its own people from political life,” she noted.

Emphasising that a peaceful, democratic and stable Bangladesh was in India’s interest, just as a friendly and cooperative India benefited Bangladesh, Hasina said that the two countries should preserve the relationship built during her tenure.

“That is the relationship we worked to build, and I believe it should be preserved. Neighbouring countries may have disagreements, and Bangladesh may have differences with India. But those differences should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect, not through hostility for political advantage,” she told media.

Referring to issues such as the land boundary, Ganges water-sharing and maritime boundaries, Hasina said that her government had demonstrated during its tenure that differences could be resolved through dialogue.

“Our foreign policy has always been based on friendship towards all and malice towards none. This was the principle articulated by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and we have followed it,” the former PM stated.