Iran has carried out a missile strike on a major United States naval base in Bahrain, escalating tensions in the Middle East and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Explosions were heard across Bahrain’s capital, Manama, late Saturday, after Iranian forces launched what they described as a retaliatory attack. Thick smoke was seen rising near the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters, one of Washington’s most important military facilities in the Gulf.
The strike came shortly after the United States confirmed it had begun large-scale combat operations against Iranian military targets. American officials said the offensive was designed to weaken Iran’s missile systems and naval capabilities.
Iranian forces stated that they specifically targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, located inside the Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. The attack was confirmed by Tasnim News Agency, a semi-official Iranian outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Residents in Bahrain received warnings of an incoming missile strike soon after the United States announced the start of its military campaign. Military alerts were also issued to personnel stationed in the region.
Within minutes of the warnings, multiple explosions were reported in Manama. Witnesses described loud blasts and rising smoke near the American base. However, the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
According to Stars and Stripes, U.S. officials have not yet released an official statement detailing casualties or the level of destruction caused by the attack.
The tension quickly spread beyond Bahrain. Air raid sirens and emergency alerts were activated across parts of the Middle East following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian positions earlier in the day.
U.S. embassies in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel issued urgent security advisories, instructing American citizens to shelter in place until further notice.
Regional governments also reported defensive actions. Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems successfully intercepted several projectiles aimed at its territory. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Jordan intercepted two ballistic missiles that crossed its airspace.
In a video message released shortly after the operation began, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the offensive, which he said was codenamed “Operation Epic Fury.” He described the mission as necessary to stop what he called Iran’s growing military threat.
“I do not make this statement lightly: the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Trump said. “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this, not for now, we’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
The President acknowledged that American casualties were possible, stressing that military action carries risks but arguing that the operation was intended to protect long-term U.S. security interests.
As of press time, neither U.S. nor Iranian officials have provided detailed casualty figures. Military analysts warn that the exchange of strikes marks one of the most serious direct confrontations between the two countries in recent years.
Observers say the coming hours and days will be critical in determining whether the conflict remains limited to targeted military strikes or expands into a broader regional war involving multiple Middle Eastern states.
