Bahrain's military announced on Wednesday that it intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian aerial attacks, accusing Tehran of deliberately targeting civilians with missiles and drones. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Bahrain Defence Force described the actions as a serious escalation against regional countries and a continuation of Iran's hostile approach.
Bahrain Military Response
The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force confirmed that all its weapons and units are at the highest level of readiness and fully prepared for defensive operations to protect the kingdom. Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid approaching suspicious objects resulting from the attack, and report them immediately. The statement emphasised that deliberately targeting civilians and private property with missiles and drones constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
Regional Condemnation
Qatar joined the regional condemnation, describing Iran's actions against Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan as a flagrant violation of their sovereignty and a clear breach of international law. In a post on X, Qatar's Foreign Ministry stressed the need to spare the region from the consequences of such unjustified attacks and called for de-escalation to restore security and stability at both regional and international levels. The ministry reiterated its full solidarity with the three affected nations and support for all measures they take to preserve their sovereignty and security.
The United Arab Emirates also strongly condemned what it termed terrorist and unprovoked ballistic missile and drone attacks by Iran targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the three brotherly nations and a threat to their security and stability. The ministry expressed the UAE's full solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability.
Broader Conflict Context
This heavy bombardment marks a significant geographical expansion of the ongoing West Asian conflict. Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory drone attack against the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to the Tasnim News Agency. The IRGC Navy forces conducted the drone strike at 2:30 a.m. local time, warning that if US aggression continues, it will face consequences of greater severity.
The cross-border escalation came hours after US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American Air Force and Navy fighter jets had struck Iranian air defence installations, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the strategic Strait of Hormuz using precision munitions. CENTCOM described the operation as a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters, asserting that US forces remain vigilant and postured to defend against unjustified Iranian aggression.
The American strikes were triggered by a maritime incident on Monday, when Iran downed a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter near the coast of Oman.
