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Iran struck the U.S. naval base in Bahrain with ballistic missiles Saturday as part of its retaliatory response to the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim and Fars news agencies, with footage showing heavy smoke rising above the facility that houses the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters.
Qatar intercepted two Iranian missiles over its territory, a Qatari official confirmed, while explosions were reported in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi and sirens sounded across Jordan and Bahrain.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that the U.S. naval base in Bahrain was struck as part of the ballistic missile barrage launched in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli strikes.
A service center affiliated with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain also came under missile attack, the Bahrain News Agency reported.
Footage released by Iranian media showed heavy smoke rising from the base area.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry called on citizens and residents to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place" after sirens were activated across the country. The ministry also urged the public to "use main roads only when necessary to maintain public safety and allow authorities to operate efficiently."
Bahrain is a key U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf and the permanent host of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in the capital, Manama.
Qatar intercepted two Iranian missiles over its territory, a Qatari official said, indicating that Iran's retaliatory strikes extended to Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities.
Residents in Abu Dhabi told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they heard loud explosions in the UAE capital. Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing U.S. personnel.
The UAE said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.
Sirens sounded in both Jordan and Bahrain following Iranian missile launches toward Israel and the region, authorities in both countries confirmed.
Jordan, which hosts the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key staging ground for U.S. air operations with more than 60 warplanes visible in recent satellite imagery, is considered a potential target for Iranian retaliation.
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