Iran Launches Missiles Toward US Bases in Bahrain Amid Escalating Conflict
Retaliatory strikes come hours after joint US-Israel attack on Tehran, as Pentagon confirms "mission-critical" personnel sheltered in place.
Iran has launched missiles toward American military bases in Bahrain, sources confirmed on Saturday, marking a dramatic escalation in the widening conflict between Tehran and the United States.
The attack comes just hours after the US and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran, with explosions reported across Tehran and other provinces. An Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had promised “crushing retaliation” for the earlier assault.
US Bases in Crosshairs
The primary target appears to be Naval Support Activity Bahrain, which houses the US Fifth Fleet. Recent satellite imagery had shown all US Navy vessels departing their home piers in Bahrain as a precautionary measure, leaving the main dock conspicuously empty .
US officials had previously reduced staffing at the Fifth Fleet headquarters to “mission-critical” levels, with well under 100 personnel remaining inside as nonessential staff were relocated . This move mirrored earlier dispersals before past Iranian missile barrages on American bases in the region.
Iran’s Missile Capabilities
Analysts have long warned that Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal—the largest in the Middle East—poses a direct threat to US bases throughout the Gulf region. Iranian medium-range missiles are capable of traveling more than 1,200 miles, placing American installations in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE within range .
The US maintains approximately 30,000–40,000 troops across 13 military bases in the Middle East, many of which are within reach of Iran’s missile systems .
Precautionary Measures
Earlier this week, the US had begun evacuating hundreds of troops from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest US military installation in the Middle East—as well as from facilities in Bahrain . The Pentagon described these movements as precautionary amid escalating regional tensions.
US embassies in Qatar and Bahrain had already implemented shelter-in-place orders for all personnel, advising American citizens to do the same .
Regional Fallout
Iraq’s transport ministry has closed its national airspace, and Israel declared a state of emergency with sirens sounding across the country. The US Embassy in Israel had previously authorized the departure of non-essential personnel.
The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides appearing prepared for further military exchanges. Iran’s leadership has consistently warned that any attack on its territory would make American bases “legitimate targets” .
Source: Al Jazeera, AP, Reuters
