Iran launched an aerial attack on Bahrain early Sunday, marking the latest escalation in regional hostilities. Residents in the capital, Manama, reported hearing blasts following the strikes, which officials said prompted authorities to sound missile-alert sirens twice and urge the public to seek immediate shelter.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the operation. The group stated that it utilized six drones to target radar positions at Bahrain’s Riffa Air Base, located south of the capital. Bahraini authorities have not yet issued an official comment regarding the extent of the damage or casualties resulting from the morning assault.
This attack follows a similar incident earlier in the week, when Iran targeted an American early-warning radar site in the island nation. U.S. Central Command reported that it intercepted and destroyed two Iranian drones during that previous attempt, which reportedly caused no damage. These hostilities coincide with broader ongoing skirmishes between Iranian forces and the United States, as negotiations aimed at concluding the nine-month-old war remain at a stalemate.
Current U.S. strategy, as directed by President Trump, focuses on economic pressure through a naval blockade and efforts to curtail Iran's overland trade. While the U.S. military has conducted a series of strikes on Iranian naval facilities—including a site on Qeshm Island used for drone and missile deployments—the administration has signaled a preference to avoid returning to major combat.
Key facts
- The attack occurred on Sunday morning, November 15, 2026.
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have used six drones in the strike.
- The targets were identified as radar positions at the Riffa Air Base in Bahrain.
- Bahrain serves as the base for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
- This marks the second Iranian attack on the island kingdom within two months.
Why it matters
The strikes are part of an ongoing struggle for control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. U.S. and Gulf officials maintain that recent military interventions are intended to prevent Iran from threatening maritime traffic in the waterway, despite President Trump characterizing these exchanges as minor.
Background
The current conflict, now in its ninth month, involves persistent tensions between Iran and the U.S. over the control of the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. actively targeting Iranian infrastructure to restrict the group’s ability to launch drone and missile strikes.
Source: Hindustan Times
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