Water cut off for thousands of Iranians after US strikes: state media

US strikes on the southern Iranian town of Sirik have cut off drinking water for 20,000 residents after hitting two reservoirs supplying the area, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.

The strikes on Sirik, Jask, and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz followed what Washington said was Iran's downing of a US Army Apache helicopter over Gulf waters.

How did US strikes cut off water supply in Sirik, Iran?

Two reservoirs supplying the Bemani and Kouhestak areas of Sirik town were damaged in the strikes. The area has insufficient groundwater to replace them, according to local water company officials quoted by Iranian state television.

A senior Hormozgan province water official, Abdolhamid Hamzehpour, said efforts were underway to find alternative sources for affected villages.

What conditions are residents facing after the strikes?

Iranian state television quoted local water company officials describing the situation as "extremely difficult and critical." Temperatures in the region are ranging between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius, compounding the impact of the water cut-off on Sirik's 20,000 residents.

Officials said the destruction of the reservoirs had created a major problem for the region's entire water supply network.

How has Iran responded to the US strikes?

Tehran condemned the strikes as having been carried out "under false pretext." Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on what it described as US bases in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. Washington said its jets had targeted air defence and radar installations across southern Iran.