Explosions and air raid sirens rocked Bahrain on Sunday, prompting authorities to direct residents to seek shelter following Iran’s claim that it had launched a drone attack on a United States military facility in the Gulf country.
Residents were urged to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location as emergency alerts were issued across the country.
An AFP journalist reported hearing explosions at about 4:00 am local time, followed by another series of blasts around 6:30 am.
In a message posted on X, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry advised residents to follow safety instructions and obtain updates through official channels.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed that its forces had targeted a US military radar installation at the Al-Riffa helicopter base in Bahrain.
The Guards said six drones operated by its Aerospace Force were deployed against the American air defence radar system, according to a statement broadcast by Iranian state television.
It also warned that any further military action by the United States would be met with a stronger response, insisting that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed.
The latest incident comes amid the prolonged conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which began on February 28 after Washington and Tel Aviv launched military strikes against Iranian targets.
Bahrain, which hosts a major US naval base, is among several Gulf nations affected by Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on American military assets and critical infrastructure.
On Friday, the Revolutionary Guards also claimed to have targeted a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain. However, the US military said it intercepted two Iranian drones involved in the attack.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported no casualties or damage from the incident.
CENTCOM said last month that it had helped Gulf countries facilitate the export of 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the summer, highlighting the waterway's importance to global energy supplies.
