🔗 Share this article

Iran's military claims to have hit a American military facility in Bahrain, as Iran launched operations throughout the Middle East in retaliation for a "massive" and continuing attack against it by the US and Israel.

Large columns of dark smoke were observed billowing from an zone near the command center of the American Fifth Fleet in Bahrain's capital, Manama. The scope of any damage is not yet known and the United States has not commented.

Missile Defenses Activated

In other parts of the Middle East, the UAE, the State of Qatar and Kuwait - all home to US military bases - said they have engaged and destroyed incoming projectiles in their airspace.

In Doha, Qatar's defence ministry said it had intercepted a number of projectiles apparently targeting the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American base in the region.

Operation "Truthful Promise 4"

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it was attacking US bases and assets as part of military campaign "Truthful Promise 4", in reprisal for the strikes on the Islamic Republic launched by the United States and its ally Israel on Saturday morning.

That initial attack - executed at around 06:15 GMT - has so far focused on sites associated with the Iranian leadership, with US President Donald Trump urging the people of Iran to revolt against the government.

Regional Fallout

In Israel, air raid sirens sounded nationwide after the Israeli military stated it had detected an incoming Iranian missile barrage.

The defence ministry of the UAE stated that the country has been subjected to a "a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles".

"Emirati air defenses responded to the missiles with great effectiveness and destroyed a several projectiles," it added.

Officials reported missile fragments landed in a residential area in the capital, causing some property damage and killing a civilian.

The US Air Force is stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base, south of the Emirati capital, along with the Emirati Air Force.