Bahrain intercepts missiles, drones fired from Iran amid fraying ceasefire

WEB DESK: The Bahraini military announced on Saturday that it had successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles and several attack drones launched from Iran, in what local authorities described as a “criminal” and “systematic hostile campaign” targeting civilian infrastructure.

The incident, which triggered air raid sirens across the island nation, has significantly heightened regional anxieties and further strained a tenuous ceasefire brokered in the ongoing conflict involving Iran and global powers.

According to the Bahraini Defence Force’s general command, the intercepted weapons were aimed at civilian facilities inside the kingdom, a claim that Manama has termed a “flagrant violation of international law.”

Escallation in the Gulf

The attack coincides with a broader wave of aerial strikes launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards across the Gulf, which also targeted neighbouring Kuwait.

Residents in Manama were advised to seek immediate shelter as air defences engaged the incoming threats over the weekend.

While Bahrain reported the interception of three missiles on its territory, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had assisted regional allies by intercepting six out of seven ballistic missiles fired towards both Bahrain and Kuwait.

The US military, which maintains its Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, rejected claims broadcast by Iranian state media suggesting that the American naval facility had suffered substantial damage.

Diplomatic Fallout and Tenuous Truce

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the “blatant aggression” and warned Tehran that its patience should not be misconstrued as weakness, emphasizing that the protection of its national sovereignty remains a non-negotiable red line.

Kuwait’s foreign ministry echoed the sentiment, characterizing the simultaneous strikes as a serious escalation that directly threatens the fragile peace process.

The fresh hostilities come at a critical juncture, as negotiators attempt to extend a shaky two-month-old ceasefire by an additional 60 days.

The recent exchange of fire which followed US strikes on Iranian radar installations along the Strait of Hormuz highlights the extreme volatility of the current security situation and the steep challenges facing international efforts to secure a permanent diplomatic settlement.