Bahrain has formally accused Iran of launching drone and missile strikes against the island kingdom, calling the attacks “blatant aggression” targeting its civilians and sovereignty. Iran has not acknowledged the strikes.
What happened in Bahrain
Bahrain’s defense forces reported intercepting drone and missile attacks on June 6, part of a pattern of strikes that have hit the kingdom on multiple occasions. Previous incidents were reported in late February and early March 2026, involving Shahed drones and ballistic missiles.
The attacks targeted various locations within the kingdom, including areas close to US military facilities. The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters sits in Manama’s Juffair district, making Bahrain a strategically loaded target.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for targeting the Fifth Fleet headquarters specifically, framing it as retaliation for US strikes on Iranian sites. While the IRGC has owned the attacks aimed at American assets, Iranian authorities have consistently denied any direct aggression toward Bahraini civilians or sovereignty.
