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2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain

On 28 February 2026, following the initial strikes during the 2026 Iran war, Iran conducted retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Bahrain, hitting multiple buildings in the capital Manama including the district of Juffair, where the US Navy's 5th Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

As of 11 March 2026, two deaths and more than 50 people have been injured in Bahrain since the start of the war.

Background

On 28 February 2026, a joint missile operation was coordinated by the United States and Israel, striking multiple targets in Iran. US President Donald Trump stated that the strikes were part of an effort to initiate a regime change among other goals including those related to the halting of Iran's nuclear program. Following the strikes, the Iranian government retaliated across the Persian Gulf, with airstrikes hitting countries across the region.

Incidents

28 February

Officials reported that three buildings in Manama and Muharraq were subject to drone attacks and falling debris from an intercepted missile, with footage showing a drone strike the Era Views Tower. Air raid sirens were activated following the attack.

The American Fifth Fleet headquarters, located in Bahrain, was struck during an Iranian missile and drone attack on 28 February. Around 300 British personnel were stationed nearby, but no casualties were reported. Later footage showed smoke rising in the direction of the base. CBC News, citing the Canadian Department of National Defence's website, reported that Canadian soldiers were present on exchange with the United States military at the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain at the time of the attack.

1 March

The United States Embassy in Bahrain issued a warning to Americans in the country to avoid hotels in the capital, Manama, following the incidents. The embassy reported that one of the struck buildings was the Crowne Plaza hotel.

By the beginning of March, the Bahraini government said it had intercepted 54 drone and missile strikes across the country.

2 March

At approximately 2 AM, Mina Salman Port in Bahrain was struck by an Iranian missile, and a Bangladeshi shipyard worker was killed by falling debris after another Iranian missile was intercepted there. The strike injured 2 more and set the American MT Stena Imperative oil tanker ablaze. The crew aboard the ship reported no casualties. Additionally, debris from an impact that day hit an Amazon Web Services data center, causing electricity issues there.

Two US Department of Defense employees were wounded by Iranian strikes.

3 March

Iran stated that it had struck an American air base in Sheikh Isa.

The same day, Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed Canadian military presence in the Middle East and stated that they hadn't suffered any casualties. McGuinty also announced that the Canadian Armed Forces will “assess any potential impacts on CAF personnel in the region."

5 March

Bahrain reported that the industrial area of Ma'ameer was targeted by "Iranian aggression" causing "limited material damage" and no casualties.

8 March

An Iranian drone damaged a desalination plant in Bahrain.

9 March

An explosion near Manama sparked a fire near a petroleum refinery and resulted in injuries to at least 32 Bahraini citizens, four of them "serious cases". An analysis by academic researchers examined by Reuters found that an American-operated Patriot missile was likely involved in the blast after it downed an Iranian drone mid-air. Following the attack on its oil refinery complex, Bahrain’s state oil company BAPCO announced force majeure on its group ​operations.

10 March

Debris from an Iranian drone attack on an office tower in the Seef District killed a 29-year old Bahraini woman and injured eight others.

Gulf Air, Bahrain's national airline, relocated its airplane fleet from Bahrain International Airport to various airports in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

11 March

Bahrain said that it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones overnight.

12 March

An Iranian strike on a fuel depot in the Muharraq Governorate, close to the airport, resulted in a large fire. The Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 4 Bahraini nationals for spying and transmitting sensitive information to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps . The Bahrain Defence Force announced that it had intercepted 112 ballistic missiles and 186 drones since the start of the war.

15 March

Bahrain said that it had intercepted 125 missiles and 211 drones from Iran since the beginning of the war.

20 March

According to sources in Bahrain, a warehouse caught fire due to shrapnel after another Iranian attack.

28 March

Bahrain Aluminium Company said that its facilities were attacked by Iran and two people were injured. According to official figures released by Bahrain, 174 missiles and 391 drones have been intercepted since the beginning of the war.

30 March

Iran launched an attack on the Sheikh Isa air base, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. Satellite imagery show the several P-8 surveillance aircraft hangars were hit.

1 April

Iran struck Bahrain's largest telecom operator. According to reports this marks the first hit on American tech companies, following the Iranian threat. The site hosting Amazon Web Services, was hit by Iranian missiles.

Reactions

On March 26, 2026, Bahrain along with other five Gulf countries ( Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan) issued a joint condemnation about Iran and its affiliated armed groups in Iraq, attacks against countries in the region and their facilities and infrastructure.

See also

References