2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
Part of the 2026 Iran war
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain is located in Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain
2026 Iranian strikes on Bahrain (Bahrain)
Date February 28, 2026 – Present
Location
Bahrain
Result

Ongoing
Belligerents
Iran Bahrain
United States
Canada
Units involved
See order of battle
Casualties and losses
Iran None United States Oil tanker damaged
Bahrain 1 civilian killed, 2 injured[1]
Canada None[2]

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 and elsewhere as well as a US fleet headquarters. One death has been reported after falling debris fell on shipyard worker on 1 March 2026.

Background

Main articles: Prelude to the 2026 Iran war and 2026 Iran war

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.[3] Following the strikes, the Iranian government retaliated across the Persian Gulf, with airstrikes hitting countries across the region.[4]

Incidents

28 February

On 28 February 2026, 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.[5] Air raid sirens were activated following the attack.[6][7]

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.[8] Later footage showed smoke rising in the direction of the base.[9] 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.[10]

1 March

On 1 March 2026, the United States Embassy in Bahrain issued a warning to Americans in the country to avoid hotels in the capital, Manama, following the incidents.[11] The embassy reported that one of the struck buildings was the Crowne Plaza hotel.[12]

By the beginning of March, the Bahraini government said it had intercepted 54 drone and missile strikes across the country.[13]

2 March

At approximately 2 AM on 2 March 2026, Mina Salman Port[14] in Bahrain was struck by an Iranian missile, and a shipyard worker was killed by falling debris after another Iranian missile was intercepted there.[1][15] The strike injured 2 more and set the American MT Stena Imperative oil tanker ablaze. The crew aboard the ship reported no casualties.[16] Additionally, debris from an impact that day hit an Amazon Web Services data center, causing electricity issues there.[17]

3 March

On 3 March, Iran stated that it had struck an American air base in Sheikh Isa.[18]

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."[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Iran launches missile strike on U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain". Reuters. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Canadian troops in Middle East 'are all fine' amid Iran war, McGuinty says". Global News. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  3. ^ Magid, Jacob (28 February 2026). "Trump indicates goal of Iran strikes is to topple regime; tells Iranian people: 'When we're finished, take over your government'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  4. ^ "See where U.S., Israeli strikes have hit Iran and where Iran has retaliated". The Washington Post. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  5. ^ "From Tehran to Dubai: Geolocated videos show the shockwaves of US-Israeli strikes — and Iran's retaliation". CNN. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Iran launches retaliatory strikes at targets across Middle East". www.bbc.com. 28 February 2026. Archived from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  7. ^ Lehmann, Noam (28 February 2026). "Bahrain: Sirens activated as Iran targets US bases". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  8. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (1 March 2026). "UK personnel just 200 metres away from Iranian missile strike". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Iran's IRGC targeted four US bases in the Middle East, Iranian media reports". CNN. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Did Canadian exchange officers participate in U.S. Iran strike planning? DND says no, but questions linger". CBC News. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026. The Department of National Defence website shows that as many as 18 military personnel with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are attached to Operation Foundation, working at the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and at the Combined Aerospace Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid airbase in Qatar.
  11. ^ "Warning for Americans in Bahrain after Iran strikes Dubai and other Gulf targets". ABC News. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  12. ^ "US embassy in Bahrain tells citizens to avoid Manama hotels, could be attack 'target'". The Times of Israel. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  13. ^ "General Command of Bahrain Defence Force: Successful interception of 45 Iranian missiles and 9 drones". Bahrain News Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  14. ^ "US-Iran war: What's happening in Bahrain? All the hits, US base, tanker struck and more". The Indian Express. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  15. ^ Stepansky, Joseph; Sabah, Zaid (2 March 2026). "One killed in Iranian attack on Bahrain; Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  16. ^ Mongilio, Heather (2 March 2026). "Shipyard Worker Dead, Fire Breaks Out on U.S.-Flagged Tanker After Iranian Attack on Bahrain Port". USNI News. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Amazon says drones damaged three facilities in UAE and Bahrain". www.bbc.com. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  18. ^ "US Embassy in Riyadh, Omani port hit by drones; US base in Bahrain targeted". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 March 2026.