Bahrain downs Iranian aerial targets as Gulf tensions soar

Bahrain's air defence systems intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian aerial attacks targeting the kingdom early Thursday (July 9), the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) said, as tensions between Iran and the United States continued to escalate.

In a statement, the BDF said its forces had "successfully intercepted and destroyed a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks," but did not specify the type of projectiles involved, Caliber.Az report, citing Turkish media.

Authorities activated warning sirens across Bahrain on July 9, with the Interior Ministry urging residents to seek shelter in safe locations ahead of the anticipated attacks.

Neighboring Kuwait also sounded warning sirens, according to the state-run KUNA news agency, as regional security concerns intensified following overnight exchanges between Washington and Tehran.

Earlier on July 9, the Iranian military said it had targeted infrastructure at US military bases in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain in retaliation for recent American strikes on Iranian territory.

US Central Command confirmed that American forces carried out additional strikes against Iran on July 8, saying the operations were intended to further degrade Tehran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Bahrain has hosted the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet since 1995 and remains home to thousands of American military personnel. Its strategic location in the Gulf has made the kingdom a key partner in US regional security operations.

By Vafa Guliyeva