Sirens send Bahrain residents to shelters as drones target U.S. radar base

WatchSirens send Bahrain residents to shelters as drones target U.S. radar baseby EMMA KOPPELMAN | The National News Desk

7VIEW ALL PHOTOSTEHRAN, IRAN – APRIL 18: Iranian Army drone fleet parades on the occasion of National Army Day on April 18, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. The country held its annual Army Day parade in Tehran, which included a speech by current President Masoud Pezzekian. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)Comment on this story0CommentShare storySharetopics: BahrainIranDronesU.S.-Iran tensionsAl-Rifaa air baseStrait of HormuzFifth FleetAir-defense radar(TNND) — Air-raid sirens sent residents scrambling for shelter in Bahrain early Sunday as the kingdom said it intercepted six Iranian drones aimed at a U.S. air-defense radar facility at Al-Rifaa air base, the latest escalation in a fast-moving confrontation tied to the war and mounting U.S.-Iran tensions.

TEHRAN, IRAN – MARCH 6: Smoke rises over buildings following explosions in the central region of the city on March 6, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed killed after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of missiles and drones at Israel, and targeting U.S. allies in the region. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Bahrain said the drones were stopped before reaching their targets. Iran, however, claimed it struck a base. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attack was in retaliation for “hostile US actions.”

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged residents to go to their nearest safe location as the sirens sounded.

Sunday’s incident marked Iran’s second attempt to target Bahrain in three days and the first such attacks since a wave of strikes in September.

On Friday, Iran said it had hit a U.S. early-warning radar facility in Bahrain. U.S. Central Command said two drones were shot down, with no injuries or damage.

Bahrain hosts key U.S. military facilities, including the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and Naval Forces Central Command headquarters.

The strikes come as the U.S. maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports and both countries contest control of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply typically passes through the strait, where shipping has been restricted since the war began in February.

The U.S. has carried out limited strikes on Iranian targets, including sites on Qeshm Island. Iran has said it will keep responding to what it calls military aggression.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JULY 17: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) welcomes Bahrain Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (L) to the Pentagon on July 17, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The two leaders were expected to discuss a range of bilateral issues during their meeting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Peace efforts remain stalled. President Donald Trump has described the war as “effectively over,” while the Guardian reported he said Washington was no longer seeking a deal.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Bahrain.