MANAMA, Bahrain, June 27, 2026 — Iran launched drone strikes targeting facilities linked to U.S. forces in Bahrain early on June 27, including areas associated with the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters, in retaliation for recent U.S. military strikes on southern Iran.
According to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the operation began at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time using Shahed-136 drones. Tehran said the strikes were a response to U.S. attacks on the Iranian coastal cities of Jask, Sirik, and Qeshm, where American forces targeted missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar positions. The IRGC warned that any further U.S. military action would receive a stronger response.
Following the drone launches, Bahrain activated missile alert sirens and urged residents to seek shelter as explosions were reported in parts of the kingdom. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, and U.S. forces in the region remain on heightened alert.
The U.S. said its earlier strikes were carried out in response to attacks on commercial shipping that it said violated the recently signed U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement. Iran rejected that claim, accusing Washington of breaching the agreement and stating that the strikes in Sirik damaged civilian infrastructure, including a telecommunications mast and two water tanks.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the drone attacks, calling them a serious violation of the country's sovereignty and international law. The ministry said the incident endangered civilians and undermined regional de-escalation efforts but did not provide details on damage or casualties.
The exchange marks the first direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran since the signing of the agreement intended to end the broader Middle East conflict. Officials from Bahrain and the United States have not yet released a detailed assessment of the impact of the drone attacks, while regional governments continue to monitor the situation amid concerns over renewed instability in the Gulf.
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