Iran Claims to Target US Radar in Bahrain Amid Rising Tensions

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed to have targeted a US air defense radar system at Bahrain's Riffa Air Base. The IRGC stated it launched six drones in response to what it described as hostile US actions. Meanwhile, the Bahrain Defence Force announced that its air defense systems successfully thwarted several Iranian "aerial attacks" aimed at the kingdom.

On Sunday, sirens sounded in Bahrain as its Ministry of Interior urged residents to "remain calm" and "proceed to the nearest safe location." This marks the second time in three days that the IRGC has claimed to target a US radar system in Bahrain. The US military confirmed intercepting two Iranian drones on Friday but has yet to comment on Sunday's alleged attack.

Highlights

• The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have attacked a US air defense radar system in Bahrain with six drones.
• The Bahrain Defence Force stated its air defense systems successfully thwarted Iranian "aerial attacks."
• This was the second time in three days the IRGC claimed to target a US radar in Bahrain.
• The incidents coincided with IRGC claims that US efforts to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz had failed.
• The US military confirmed shooting down two Iranian drones on Friday but has not commented on Sunday's alleged attack.

Details

According to a statement carried by the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency, the IRGC claimed to have struck the radar at Bahrain's Riffa Air Base. Bahrain's Interior Ministry issued an alert around 4:30 am (01:30 GMT) warning of a "potential threat" and advising residents to seek shelter, without providing further details.

In its statement, the IRGC asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and that US efforts to escort ships through the waterway had failed. It also warned that any US attack would provoke a more severe response. On Friday, the IRGC had also claimed to have destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain, in retaliation for an alleged air attack on a telecommunications tower in southern Iran. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied this claim, stating it had shot down two IRGC drones with no injuries or damage.

Why it matters

These events underscore the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States and its allies. The reported maritime mine incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the reciprocal claims of attacks exacerbate regional instability. Experts warn that limited exchanges could escalate into a wider conflict due to miscalculation, potentially impacting global energy supplies and regional security.