Bahrain Under Attack as Iran Targets US Military Installation With Drones

MANAMA — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting a United States military installation in Bahrain, escalating tensions in the Gulf region.

The IRGC said it launched six drones at a US air-defence radar system located at the Al-Rifaa helicopter base in Bahrain on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

The attack reportedly came in retaliation for what Tehran described as hostile actions by the United States.

Iranian state media reported that the drones targeted the American radar installation, which is part of the military infrastructure supporting US operations in the Gulf.

However, Bahrain’s military said its air-defence systems intercepted and destroyed several incoming aerial threats before they could reach their intended targets.

The Bahraini Defence Force accused Iran of continuing what it described as a systematic hostile approach through attacks on the kingdom.

Explosions were heard in parts of Bahrain, including around the capital, Manama, while air-raid sirens sounded and authorities issued emergency warnings to residents.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry issued two public safety alerts, urging citizens and residents to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location and follow updates through official channels.

The warnings marked the kingdom’s first nationwide security alerts of this nature since September.

Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, making it a strategically important location for American military operations in the Middle East.

READ ALSO:

• VIDEO: NDLEA Discovers Gun Factory in Kaduna, Arrests 45-Year-Old Owner
• 2027: ‘Either Me or Nobody’ Attitude Undermining Opposition Unity, Donald Duke Warns
• Tinubu-Aregbesola Rift: ‘They Still Have Deep Affection for Each Other’ — Adeyeye

The latest incident followed another reported Iranian drone attack on Friday, November 13, targeting a US early-warning radar facility in Bahrain.

On that occasion, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces intercepted two Iranian drones and reported no casualties or damage, rejecting Tehran’s claim that the radar system had been destroyed.

The renewed attacks come amid an ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which began on February 28, 2026, following US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets.

Iran has subsequently launched missile and drone attacks against US military installations and other targets across the Gulf region.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yet to produce a breakthrough, with Washington maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports and tensions continuing around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington could refrain from further attacks if Iran and its regional allies avoid new provocations, although the American naval blockade remains in place.

The latest developments have raised fresh concerns about regional security, international shipping and global energy supplies, particularly because of the importance of the Strait of Hormuz to international oil trade.

As of Sunday, there was no independent confirmation that the latest Iranian drone attack had successfully damaged the US radar installation. Bahrain maintained that its air defences intercepted the incoming threats.

Sources: Reuters, AFP, Channels Television and The Guardian.

Bahrain Under Attack as Iran Targets US Military Installation With Drones