Bahrain sounded warning sirens early on Sunday, November 15, following a potential danger alert issued by its Ministry of Interior, which urged citizens and residents to remain calm and seek shelter at the nearest safe location. In its advisory, the ministry asked the public to stay informed through official channels and follow safety instructions. However, it did not provide details about the nature of the threat.
The alert came amid reports from Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB that six drones had targeted a radar installation at a US defence facility near the Riffa helicopter base in Bahrain. Citing the Iranian Armed Forces, IRIB said the operation was carried out in response to what Tehran described as US provocations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
The reported drone strike follows an earlier claim by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday, November 13, that it had destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain.
The IRGC said the operation was launched in retaliation for an alleged strike on a communications tower in Sirik, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province. Iran’s official news agency IRNA had reported on Thursday, November 12, citing official sources, that the coastal city was subjected to what it described as a hostile attack.
The US military, however, disputed Iran’s claims. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had intercepted two Iranian attack drones heading towards Bahrain, adding that no casualties or damage had been reported.
Meanwhile, IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi said Iran was identifying additional targets and preparing military operations in new geographical areas amid the possibility of further attacks.
Mohebi maintained that the Iranian armed forces were better equipped to respond to potential threats and had secured victories at different stages of the conflict. He also claimed that Iran had thwarted attempts by its adversaries to overthrow the government and break up the country.
According to the spokesperson, opposing forces had failed to achieve their objectives in southern Iran and were facing difficulties restoring access through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Questioning Washington’s military role in the region, Mohebi said the conflict had demonstrated the United States’ inability to guarantee security in the Gulf and the strategic waterway. He further alleged that US military bases had failed to defend themselves and had instead become a source of insecurity for the countries hosting them.
The war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. Although the two sides reached a ceasefire in April, hostilities between Washington and Tehran later resumed as negotiations stalled, despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding in June.
