US Ally Bahrain Attacked Again by Iran: Iran has again attacked Bahrain amid an ongoing negotiation stalemate between the Islamic Republic and the US, Israel, and their Middle Eastern allies. The strikes targeted US military installations.
Sunday Morning Explosions
Early Sunday morning, November 15, Tehran launched an attack on Bahrain. People on the ground in the Bahraini capital of Manama said they heard the early-morning blasts and air raid sirens at approximately 4:00 AM. A second series of blasts was heard at 6:30 AM, but it was not immediately clear whether the attack caused any damage to the city.
The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)
A F-15 Strike Eagle, assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, for refueling over the southeastern United States, Aug. 29, 2024. A multi-mission avionics system sets the F-15 apart from other fighter aircraft. It includes a head-up display, advanced radar, inertial navigation system, flight instruments, ultrahigh frequency communications, tactical navigation system and instrument landing system. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)
The Bahraini Ministry of Interior posted an alert about a “potential threat” on X following the explosions, urging Manama residents to stay calm and move to the nearest safe location while following official news channels for further information.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force later confirmed the attacks on American infrastructure and claimed responsibility for the drone strikes. The IRGC targeted American radar systems for air defense located at the Rifaa Air Base, a helicopter base near Al-Riffa in Bahrain’s Southern Governorate. The Royal Bahraini Air Force Helicopter Wing headquarters houses multiple helicopter squadrons, including Black Hawk, Bell, and Cobra variants.
As always, Iran’s claims are tough to confirm, and we cannot confirm their sequence of events or reporting as they depict it.
Baharian, for its part, said it intercepted what it called an ‘aerial attack‘.
Second Stage of Retaliation
The IRGC claims it deployed six drones to carry out the strikes and said the attack was stage two of a retaliation operation in response to US attacks on an Iranian telecommunications tower in Sirik, a port city in southern Iran. That US attack took place on Thursday, November 12, and the first stage of Iran’s response happened the following day on November 13.
Defense officials in Bahrain claim that the November 15 attack was intercepted by their air defense systems before hitting the helicopter base and condemned Iran’s “hostile approach.”
Iranian outlets report that the strikes hit the radar systems and published video of the attacks. Such footage can’t be corroborated as of publication.
Iran Warns of Escalation
Iranian military commanders from the IRGC warned in their statement on the operation that more drones will be deployed and said the contested Strait of Hormuz waterway will remain closed. They added that further aggression from US-Israeli forces will result in a response that is “harsher and more forceful.”
Over the last eight months since the war began, Iran has continually launched strikes against ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. The strikes have targeted commercial vessels attempting to pass through so-called “unauthorized” routes.
According to Iranian sources, there have been over 140 such incidents involving vessels since February. While such numbers are hard to confirm as noted above, the environmental impacts alone prove there is a serious problem.
Iran has also struck seaports, airports, and energy facilities, targeting American assets specifically.
Bahrain is only one of several Gulf countries targeted by Iran for hosting US naval bases, which are taking the brunt of Iranian wrath since the war began. The United States has responded by providing naval support to commercial vessels attempting to pass through the strait.
Last month, CENTCOM said at least 1.5 billion barrels have made it through with their assistance.
Peace Talks at a Stalemate
The latest attack on Bahrain comes as negotiations to end the war between US-Israeli forces and Iran have reached a stalemate. Qatar has been mediating the negotiations, and its prime minister recently met with President Donald Trump on November 9. Trump said the meeting was “excellent,” yet seems to be hesitant to escalate the war after Republicans suffered heavy election losses in the midterms.
Trump says further military operations are most likely unnecessary and that economic pressure — the “status quo” — is working as intended. Despite the stalemate, Trump says there is “positive momentum” towards concluding the conflict, although he also stressed that US military forces are “locked and loaded” and prepared to engage again if necessary.
On November 12, Trump published a statement announcing that he would redirect Vice President Vance’s focus away from Iran and onto domestic issues of corruption and crime, specifically in Democrat-run states like Minnesota, Illinois, and California.
At the end of his statement, he said the time for making a deal with Iran has “long since passed” and that economic pressure would be all that is necessary to bring an end to the war.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
