Iran has launched a retaliatory missile attack on a major United States naval installation in Manama, Bahrain, sending plumes of smoke into the skies and triggering loud explosions across the Gulf nation’s capital.
The strike targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, located within the U.S. Fifth Fleet base, according to Tasnim News Agency, a semi-official outlet linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Residents and military personnel in Bahrain were alerted to incoming missiles following Washington’s earlier announcement of large-scale combat operations against Iranian targets. Explosions were reportedly heard across the city within minutes of the warning.
The full extent of damage and casualties remains unclear, with U.S. authorities yet to release an official report.
The attack comes amid a broader wave of hostilities across the Middle East. Air raid sirens and missile alerts were activated in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel following coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure earlier in the day.
Qatar’s Defense Ministry confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted several projectiles, while Jordan reportedly intercepted two ballistic missiles, according to Reuters.
In a video statement, U.S. President Donald Trump said the offensive, codenamed “Operation Epic Fury,” aims to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and weaken its naval forces.
“I do not make this statement lightly: the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Trump said. “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this, not for now, we’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
The strikes signal a sharp escalation in U.S.–Iran tensions, raising concerns about a potential broader regional conflict with significant geopolitical and economic implications.
