MANAMA — Bahrain said on Thursday it had thwarted a fresh wave of alleged Iranian missile and drone attacks, as regional tensions intensified following escalating military exchanges involving Iran and the United States.
The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force said the kingdom's air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a number of incoming aerial threats, adding that its armed forces remained at the highest state of readiness to defend the country. Authorities urged residents to avoid approaching suspicious objects that could be debris from intercepted projectiles and to report them immediately to security officials.
The Bahraini statement accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian property, describing the attacks as violations of international humanitarian law. The military did not immediately provide details on casualties or damage, and Reuters could not independently verify Bahrain's allegations.
Iran had not immediately issued a public response specifically addressing Bahrain's latest claims. Iranian authorities have previously defended military actions against what they describe as hostile U.S. and allied activities in the Gulf while rejecting accusations that they intentionally target civilians.
The reported interceptions came as fighting across the region entered another day, with the United States expanding strikes on Iranian military targets and Tehran launching missiles and drones toward countries hosting U.S. military facilities, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, according to U.S. officials and regional governments.
Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, making the Gulf island kingdom a strategically important location in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Earlier this month, Bahrain's Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks on its territory and on neighbouring Kuwait and Jordan, calling on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to take action against what it termed escalating violations of state sovereignty.
The Bahrain Defence Force has issued multiple statements in recent days reporting the interception of missiles and drones allegedly launched from Iran, while repeatedly urging the public to exercise caution around debris from intercepted weapons. Those claims have not been independently verified.
Regional governments remain on heightened alert as military operations continue and diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict have yet to produce a breakthrough. No new official announcements indicating a reduction in hostilities had been issued by late Thursday.
