Iran says it attacked a US radar base in Bahrain with drones

IRGC statement and Bahrain's response

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that it had attacked an American radar air-defense facility at the al-Riffa airbase in Bahrain with six drones. Iranian state media reported this; the statement contained no data on damage. According to Anadolu, a few hours earlier Bahrain's interior ministry had repeatedly warned of a potential threat, without specifying its nature, and urged residents to take shelter.

Conflicting assessments of the consequences

According to BBC News, Bahrain's military said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed the Iranian air attacks 'before they could reach their targets.' The kingdom's foreign ministry condemned the 'ongoing brutal Iranian attacks' and held Iran fully responsible for their consequences. Meanwhile, the American side had earlier rejected the IRGC's Friday claim of hitting the radar: according to the US military, two one-way attack drones were shot down, with no casualties or damage. Thus, the IRGC's claims about the results of the strikes have not yet been confirmed by independent data.

Context: the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz

The attack was Iran's second attempt to strike Bahrain in three days — the first, according to BBC News, took place on Friday and was Iran's first attack on a Gulf state since September. The standoff is tied to a dispute over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's gas and oil supplies normally pass; shipping has been restricted since the war began in February. Iran insists on control over the strait and attacks, in its words, 'unauthorized' vessels, while the US escorts tankers. In a statement distributed by the state broadcaster, the IRGC declared the strait closed and warned that 'any aggression by the American enemy will receive an even harsher and crushing response.'

Talks have reached a dead end

According to BBC News, citing American officials, earlier this week the US carried out 'limited and defensive' strikes on the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz — in response to the IRGC's shooting at an American aircraft; the Iranian agency IRNA reported explosions on the island. A preliminary agreement to end the war and open the strait, reached in June, fell apart within weeks after attacks on shipping resumed and the US imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian negotiators had discussed with mediators a proposal to open the strait within two days if the US met seven conditions, including lifting the blockade and unfreezing assets. However, according to BBC News, Donald Trump said the US was no longer interested in a deal and instructed Vice President JD Vance, who had taken part in attempts to resume talks, to focus on domestic policy.