Iran targets US airbase in Bahrain, marking second strike in three days

Iranian military officials confirmed on November 15, 2026, that their forces launched an attack against a United States military base located in Bahrain. This incident marks the second time Bahrain has been targeted in just three days, continuing a pattern of strikes in the energy-rich Gulf region that has borne the brunt of Iranian offensive actions during the ongoing Middle East war.

Blasts were reported across Bahrain in the early hours of Sunday. According to an AFP journalist on the scene, explosions could be heard around 4:00 am local time. Residents subsequently reported a second series of blasts occurring around 6:30 am. In response to the attacks, authorities issued their first public warnings to residents since September, urging them to seek shelter as sirens sounded throughout the island nation.

The Bahraini military stated that it successfully intercepted several Iranian attacks, preventing the projectiles from reaching their intended targets. The country's foreign ministry added that air defense systems were responsible for shooting down Iranian drones. The interior ministry used social media platforms to call on residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe locations, and rely on official news channels for updates.

In a statement carried by the Iranian state broadcaster, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed its Aerospace Force targeted a US air defense radar system at the Al-Riffa helicopter base. The statement specified that six drones were used in the operation. The IRGC further declared that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and warned that any aggression by the United States would be met with a harsher and more forceful response.

This latest strike follows an attack on Friday, when the Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a US early warning radar system in Bahrain. That incident marked the first strike against a Gulf country since early September. The US military's Central Command, known as CENTCOM, reported shooting down two Iranian drones during the Friday attack and confirmed there were no casualties or damage.

Bahrain, a small island nation that hosts a major US naval base, has weathered thousands of Iranian drone and missile strikes since the war began on February 28. The foreign ministry expressed the country's position, stating that Bahrain rejects the use of its territory as an arena for settling scores. The ministry held Iran fully responsible for the attacks and their subsequent consequences.

The conflict, which has lasted for more than eight months, began with surprise US and Israeli strikes that resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil trade route, and has struck various infrastructure targets including airports, seaports, and energy facilities across the region.

US President Donald Trump, whose recent reversal in midterm elections has been partly attributed to the war, is scheduled to discuss the conflict at a trilateral meeting with his Chinese and Russian counterparts this week. An official confirmed these plans on Friday. CENTCOM noted last month that it had assisted Gulf countries in exporting 1.5 billion barrels of oil via the Strait of Hormuz since the summer, despite the ongoing hostilities.

Months of diplomatic efforts have failed to resolve the war, leaving the region in a state of heightened tension. The recent series of attacks on Bahrain underscores the continued vulnerability of US military assets in the Gulf and the broader impact of the conflict on regional stability and economic activity.