Iran has launched missile strikes on U.S. military assets in Bahrain after a coordinated attack by the United States and Israel. The assault marks Iran’s response to the earlier strikes and has raised fresh fears of a wider Middle East war.
The Iranian government said its forces carried out the operation on Saturday, targeting bases hosting U.S. personnel across the Gulf region.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the strikes were retaliatory. The group claimed that U.S. and Israeli military sites across the Middle East were hit.
“All Israeli and American military targets have been struck by powerful Iranian missile blows,” the IRGC said. It added that the operation “will continue until the enemy is decisively defeated.” The group also warned that U.S. military assets in the region remain legitimate targets.
In Abu Dhabi, authorities said missile fragments from intercepted projectiles killed one person.
Bahrain reported that the attack targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet stationed in the kingdom. Officials called it a “treacherous attack” and a “blatant violation” of sovereignty and security.
Air defence systems in Kuwait and Qatar intercepted several ballistic missiles before they reached their targets. Qatar said its response followed a prepared security plan that neutralised threats immediately after detection.
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Saudi Arabia said missiles were also aimed at Riyadh and the eastern region but were repelled.
Several Gulf Cooperation Council states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, temporarily closed their airspace and advised residents to stay indoors.
Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi said the attacks appeared to signal a broader escalation. He noted that only Oman had not been directly struck among GCC members.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi urged the United States to avoid further escalation, saying, “This is not your war.” He added that earlier peace talks showed promise before the latest violence.
U.S. President Donald Trump said American operations were meant to eliminate threats from Tehran, insisting that Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had no communication with Washington but was ready to de-escalate if U.S. and Israeli attacks stopped.
“We are ready for peace and de-escalation, but the aggression against Iran must stop first,” Araqchi said, describing the strikes against Iran as “unprovoked and illegal.”
The conflict has triggered global concern, with several international airlines suspending flights across the Middle East as tensions rise.