Quick Read
- U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet base in Manama, Bahrain, was damaged by Iranian missile and drone strikes.
- Satellite imagery confirmed smoke rising from a damaged structure at the base on March 1, 2026.
- Bahrain reported intercepting 61 missiles and 34 drones; one civilian was killed by shrapnel.
- The attacks are part of Iran’s retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- U.S. embassy in Bahrain issued a warning about potential terrorist attacks in the country.
MANAMA (Azat TV) – The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet base in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, sustained damage from Iranian missile and drone strikes over the weekend, with satellite imagery confirming smoke rising from a damaged structure at the facility. These attacks are part of Iran’s widespread retaliatory campaign across the Middle East, launched in response to the U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. The direct targeting of a significant U.S. military installation underscores the rapid escalation of the conflict and its immediate impact on American assets and personnel in the region.
Bahrain, a key U.S. ally and host to the crucial 5th Fleet, reported intercepting 61 missiles and 34 attack drones. However, some projectiles penetrated air defenses, striking buildings, including the naval base itself, and civilian areas. One person was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted missile, Bahraini authorities confirmed. An American residing in Bahrain described the experience as a “constant barrage of sirens, missile impacts, Patriot interceptors, drones, and jet engines,” noting that missile warnings were a steady occurrence, often accompanied by waves of drones, according to Defense One.
Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes Target U.S. Assets
The attacks on the U.S. 5th Fleet base are part of a broader Iranian response to what it has called ‘unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate’ aggression. Following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran’s missile infrastructure, military sites, and senior leadership, Tehran launched ballistic missiles and drones at Israel and several Middle Eastern countries hosting U.S. forces, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for many of these attacks, asserting they targeted military installations and government sites, as reported by the BBC.
The U.S. 5th Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, is a critical component of American military presence in the Middle East, responsible for maritime operations across approximately 2.5 million square miles of water, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. It comprises over 20 warships, including aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, destroyers, and fighter jets, alongside approximately 16,000 personnel. The targeting of such a vital base signals Iran’s intent to directly challenge U.S. military power in the region, rather than solely focusing on proxy conflicts.
Regional Impact and Civilian Vulnerability
Beyond military targets, civilian infrastructure in Gulf states has also been affected. Luxury hotels and shopping malls in cities like Dubai and Doha have been struck, and several countries, including Bahrain, have closed their airspace, leading to significant disruptions in global travel. The U.S. and Arab allies issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf states, calling the targeting of civilians and non-combatant countries ‘reckless and destabilizing behavior.’ The U.S. embassy in Bahrain issued an update on March 2, warning that ‘terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Bahrain’ and that ‘terrorists may attack with little or no warning.’
The vulnerability of key U.S. military installations and their host nations in the face of Iranian missile and drone capabilities has become a stark reality. While Gulf states have invested heavily in air defense systems, the sheer volume and persistence of Iranian attacks have challenged these defenses. The conflict has also spilled over into Lebanon, with the Iran-backed Shia militia group Hezbollah launching rockets into Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The direct strikes on the U.S. 5th Fleet base in Bahrain represent a significant escalation in the ongoing regional conflict, moving beyond proxy engagements to direct confrontation with U.S. military assets. This development forces a re-evaluation of regional security dynamics and the effectiveness of current defense strategies, highlighting the immediate dangers faced by U.S. forces and allied nations in the Gulf.