Explosions shook Bahrain’s capital, Manama, after Iran launched a retaliatory missile strike targeting a major United States naval facility in the Gulf nation, dramatically escalating tensions in the region.
Iranian authorities said the missiles were aimed at the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, located within the U.S. Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. The development followed Washington’s announcement earlier on Saturday that it had begun large-scale combat operations against Iranian targets.
The strike was reported by Tasnim News Agency, a semi-official outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Residents in Manama reported hearing multiple blasts shortly after missile alerts were issued. Eyewitnesses described thick plumes of smoke rising from the direction of the naval installation, while emergency sirens echoed across parts of the city.
As of press time, U.S. officials had not released details on casualties or the extent of the damage. Military publication Stars and Stripes reported that assessments were still ongoing.
The escalation has reverberated across the Middle East. U.S. embassies in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Israel issued urgent security advisories, urging American citizens to remain indoors. Qatar’s Defense Ministry said its air defense systems intercepted several incoming projectiles, while Reuters reported that Jordan shot down two ballistic missiles.
In a video message released shortly after the strikes began, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the American operation, code-named “Operation Epic Fury,” was designed to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities and weaken its naval forces.
Trump acknowledged the risks involved, stating that American casualties were possible but defended the mission as necessary for long-term security.
The exchange marks one of the most direct military confrontations between Iran and the United States in recent years, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.