ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Bahrain's foreign ministry said on Saturday that "a number of Iranian drones" struck the country at dawn, condemning the attack in "the strongest possible terms" while reaffirming its legitimate right to self-defense under international law.
Manama characterized the strikes as "a flagrant violation of Bahrain's sovereignty, a blatant threat to the safety of citizens and residents, and a clear breach of international norms and charters that prohibit the targeting of civilian objects and the terrorizing of peaceful populations."
The dramatic escalation comes after Washington and Tehran have engaged in a series of retaliatory strikes starting Thursday, triggered when Iranian forces targeted a transit vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched precision strikes against Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites.
The ministry placed "the sole responsibility for undermining peace efforts on Tehran," noting that the escalation actively subverts ongoing regional and international attempts to deescalate tensions.
“The incident exposes a systematic approach aimed at destabilizing security, exporting chaos, and undermining regional stability,” it added.
Coinciding with the drone strikes on Bahrain, a commercial ship was struck by "an unidentified projectile" off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) subsequently claimed responsibility for the regional maritime operations, according to Iranian state media.
"Iran’s dangerous behavior undermines freedom of navigation as commerce flows through this vital international trade corridor," CENTCOM said in a statement.
By Saturday, the IRGC claimed it had also struck US bases in the region, though it did not specify their locations.
The flare-up marks a functional collapse of the high-level memorandum of understanding signed on June 18, which had extended a fragile April ceasefire by 60 days to allow for diplomatic negotiations on lingering flashpoints, including Iran’s nuclear program and security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Both sides have spent the last 48 hours accusing each other of violating the pact.
The strategic waterway remains the geopolitical epicenter of the hostilities that started on February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran and sparked a nearly six week-long war.
Tehran has increasingly sought to exert total control over the strait, including threats to impose passage fees, while Washington insists the lane must remain an open, international shipping corridor.
On Thursday, the IRGC declared that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would only be permitted via routes officially designated by Iran, explicitly rejecting a newly proposed shipping corridor established by Oman in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
In response to Iran's maritime maneuvers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's stance, stating, "It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law."
