Key facts
- Iran's IRGC claimed to have launched drone attacks on the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.
- The IRGC stated the attack was in retaliation for recent US strikes on infrastructure in southern Iran.
- The drones targeted the Fifth Fleet's base in Manama at approximately 2:30 am local time.
- Iran also launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.
- The IRGC warned of stronger responses if further US military action occurs.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Wednesday that its naval forces launched a drone attack against the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The IRGC stated the operation was carried out in response to recent US strikes on infrastructure in southern Iran, specifically mentioning damage to a telecommunications mast and the destruction of water tanks.
The IRGC claimed that Shahed-136 one-way attack drones targeted the base in Manama at approximately 2:30 am local time (3:30 am GST). The group warned of "heavier responses" and "stronger response" if further US military action occurs, alleging that clashes were "still ongoing."
This claim follows a pattern of competing narratives between Washington and Tehran amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have accused the United States of targeting civilian infrastructure, while US officials state their operations target military assets linked to Iranian threats against shipping. The Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, oversees US naval operations in the region.
There were no immediate reports from Bahraini authorities, US Central Command (CentCom), or the US Navy confirming damage to the Fifth Fleet headquarters. Previous Iranian claims of successful strikes against the Fifth Fleet have been dismissed by CentCom.
Earlier, Iran also launched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait following new US airstrikes, and threatened a "complete halt" in negotiations to end the war if Washington continues its attacks. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil supply passes, remains a focal point of the confrontation.