Tensions have intensified after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it launched a drone attack on a US military radar facility in Bahrain, prompting renewed condemnation from Manama and several Arab governments.
The IRGC said six drones targeted a radar system at the US defence site at Al-Riffa helicopter base in Bahrain, describing the operation as part of its response to what it called American aggression against Iran.
However, Bahrain’s military said its air defence systems had intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks, disputing the Iranian account of the operation’s outcome.
In a statement published by an Iranian news agency, the IRGC’s public relations department described the alleged strike as the second phase of its response to an attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, last week.
“In the second stage of the decisive and crushing response to the blatant aggression of the United States army, the radar of the US defence site at the al-Riffa helicopter base in Bahrain was targeted by six drones.”
IRGC’s public relations department statement
The Revolutionary Guard accused the United States of carrying out aerial aggression against Iranian infrastructure and warned that further attacks would trigger additional retaliation.
“Expensive American drones are being shot down one after another, and a greater number of IRGC drones are heading towards American targets at this stage than in the previous stage, so the enemy knows any aggression will result in a tough and calculated response.”
IRGC’s public relations department statement
Bahrain Condemns Iranian Attacks
Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as a resumption of Iranian aggression against the kingdom, accusing Tehran of violating international law and threatening its sovereignty.
In a statement, the ministry rejected any justification for attacks against Bahrain and said that the country should not be used as a location for settling disputes between other states.
“No pretext can legitimise violations of state sovereignty. Bahrain also rejects the use of its territory to settle accounts and holds Iran fully responsible for the attacks and their consequences.”
Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bahrain’s military had earlier reported intercepting several Iranian aerial attacks. On Friday, the IRGC claimed it had struck and destroyed a US early-warning radar facility in the kingdom, while Bahraini authorities said they had intercepted two drones.
The competing accounts have raised questions about the extent of damage to American military infrastructure and the effectiveness of the reported interceptions.
The latest developments come amid heightened regional tensions and concerns about a possible resumption of large-scale military confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Egypt, Jordan Express Solidarity With Bahrain
Egypt joined Bahrain in condemning the reported attacks, describing them as a violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and a threat to stability across the Middle East.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that Cairo rejected any actions that threatened Bahrain’s security and territorial integrity. “Egypt reiterates its categorical rejection of any actions that undermine the security of the sisterly kingdom of Bahrain and the stability of the region,” the ministry said.
It also described the stability of Gulf countries as an important component of wider Arab security, saying, “The security of Bahrain and the Gulf states is closely linked to Egyptian national security and is one of the pillars of Arab national security.”
Jordan also condemned Iran’s reported targeting of Bahrain, describing the attacks as a threat to the kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
In a statement posted on X, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry denounced what it called Iran’s “brutal attacks” against Bahrain.
It further described the developments as a “dangerous escalation and a blatant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
Amman called for respect for Bahrain’s sovereignty and warned against actions that could further destabilise the region.
Saudi Arabia, Arab League Condemn Escalation
Saudi Arabia also expressed solidarity with Bahrain, condemning the Iranian attacks and calling for an immediate halt to hostilities against countries in the region.
In a statement published on X, the Saudi Foreign Ministry noted that the attacks violated international law and the principles of good neighbourliness.
Riyadh reaffirmed its support for Bahrain’s efforts to protect its security and stability while calling for an “immediate cessation of the blatant Iranian attacks on the countries of the region.”
The statement echoed earlier condemnations from Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan, reflecting growing concern among Arab governments about the potential consequences of further military escalation.
The Arab League also rejected any violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, expressing solidarity with the kingdom. “It stresses that Bahrain’s security is an integral part of Arab national security and emphasises the need to halt the escalation, respect the sovereignty of states, and prioritise political and diplomatic solutions,” the regional bloc said.
The coordinated statements underline the diplomatic pressure building against Iran following the reported attacks, with regional governments warning that continued hostilities could undermine security across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.
While the IRGC has presented the alleged drone operation as retaliation for an attack on Iranian infrastructure, Bahrain and its regional partners have focused on the implications for state sovereignty and regional stability.
The competing accounts of the strikes and their impact on US military assets remain central to the unfolding dispute, as diplomatic calls for restraint continue amid fears of a wider confrontation.
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