Manama, Bahrain / Doha, Qatar / Tehran, Iran – February 28, 2026 – Iranian missiles struck a service center affiliated with the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain on Saturday, as the country prepared retaliatory actions following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier in the day, according to Bahrain’s National Contact Center and regional reports.
The Bahrain National Contact Center confirmed that the facility in the Juffair area—home to the US Naval Support Activity Bahrain, which supports the Fifth Fleet—came under missile attack. Smoke was observed rising from the vicinity, though no immediate casualty figures or damage assessments were released. Authorities urged residents to follow official instructions, avoid speculation, and rely solely on verified sources for updates. The US Navy has not yet issued a detailed statement, but initial indications suggest defensive systems were engaged.
The incident marks one of the first confirmed direct hits on a US-linked site in the Gulf since the escalation began. Iran launched multiple missile and drone barrages targeting Israeli territory and US military installations across the region in response to the pre-dawn strikes, which Israel codenamed “Lion’s Roar” (also referred to as “Roaring Lion”) and the United States designated “Operation Epic Fury.”
In Qatar, a senior defense official confirmed that an Iranian missile was intercepted using the Patriot air defense system, according to Al Jazeera citing a Defense Ministry source. No injuries or significant damage were reported from the interception.
Several Gulf states took precautionary measures to protect airspace and civilian safety:
The United Arab Emirates announced a temporary and partial closure of its airspace as a precaution, per the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority declared a temporary closure of the country’s airspace.
Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation closed southern air corridors for 12 hours starting at noon local time to ensure flight safety.
Jordan’s armed forces conducted routine aerial patrols to safeguard national airspace, while sirens sounded in several areas. The Interior Ministry issued public guidance on responding to alarms and procedures if foreign objects fall within the kingdom.
The rapid regional response reflects heightened alert levels across the Middle East as fears grow of a broader conflict. Oil prices continued to surge amid concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint.
The strikes on Iran were announced early Saturday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the operation as pre-emptive to eliminate existential threats from Iran’s missile capabilities, nuclear program, and support for proxy groups. US President Donald Trump later confirmed American participation in “major combat operations,” vowing to destroy Iran’s missile industry, navy, and regional proxy networks while preventing nuclear weapon acquisition. Trump urged Iranian forces to surrender and called on the population to overthrow the regime, acknowledging possible US casualties.
Reports indicate the attacks targeted military infrastructure, missile production sites, and reportedly senior leadership figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and others. Israeli assessments suggested a strong likelihood that Ali Shamkhani—Khamenei’s nuclear advisor—may have been eliminated, though Iranian authorities denied harm to key figures and stated several officials were safe. Iranian media also reported civilian casualties, including five students killed when a girls’ primary school in Minab, Hormozgan province, was reportedly struck.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as military aggression and a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, asserting Tehran’s right to self-defense under Article 51. The ministry stated that while Iran had prioritized diplomacy—referencing ongoing indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman, with the latest round ending in Geneva on Thursday—the time had come to defend the homeland, promising a “decisive and powerful” response.
The escalation follows the June 2025 12-day Israel-Iran war, during which Israel initiated strikes and the US later joined, bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan). Those actions were reported to have set back—but not eliminated—Iran’s nuclear capabilities, according to International Atomic Energy Agency assessments.
International reactions remain polarized. The European Union, Switzerland, and others called for maximum restraint, civilian protection, and respect for international law. Russia and China condemned the strikes as sovereignty violations. The UN Security Council held an emergency session, while the Russian Embassy in Tehran urged its citizens to leave Iran if possible.
As missile exchanges continue, airspace restrictions persist, and regional forces remain on high alert, the coming hours will be critical in assessing the scale of further retaliation and whether diplomatic channels—despite severe strain—can prevent a full-scale regional war.
