The key facts

  • Bahrain declared its first nationwide alert in months without specifying the nature of the threat
  • The IRGC claimed an attack by six drones on an air defense radar at the Riffa base; the US did not confirm this
  • Saudi Arabia reported intercepting two ballistic missiles near Riyadh; the IRGC claimed explosions of two tankers near the Strait of Hormuz

Alert in Bahrain and Iranian statements

On Sunday morning, Bahrain declared its first nationwide alert in several months: explosions were reportedly heard across the country. The Interior Ministry urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place, following developments through official channels. The nature of the threat and possible targets were not specified.

IRGC claims and the US position

The Iranian Telegram channel Sabereen News reported that the sounds of explosions in Bahrain continued, linking them to an attack by Iranian drones on American targets. The Fars news agency, citing its military correspondent, wrote that the IRGC carried out attacks on American bases in Bahrain in response to US actions against Iran, calling them successful; no details about targets, weapons, or the scale of damage were provided. The day before, late Saturday evening, the IRGC stated that six drones attacked a US air defense radar installation at a helicopter base in Riffa, calling the operation the second stage of retaliation against the US. Washington did not confirm these reports. On Friday, US Central Command reported intercepting two Iranian one-way attack drones flying toward Bahrain, with no casualties or damage, disputing an earlier IRGC claim about the destruction of an American early warning radar.

Other events in the region

Saudi Arabia reported on Sunday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis toward Riyadh, as well as two drones in the Eastern Province. Separately, the IRGC Navy stated that two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines south of the Strait of Hormuz while attempting to pass, according to the IRGC's wording, along an unauthorized route; according to the IRGC, the vessels had switched off their navigation systems and AIS, and two more tankers turned back after warnings. These claims were not independently confirmed: the names of the vessels, their flags, and ownership data were not provided, and maritime authorities reported no mine strikes. Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, remains a key center of American military operations in the Gulf. On Friday, the Arab Gulf states demanded that Iran pay full compensation for damage from thousands of missile and drone attacks since February and called on the UN Security Council to hold Tehran accountable.