ع
The Bahraini military command issued a statement accusing Iran of pursuing a systematic hostile approach through repeated missile and drone launches aimed at civilian areas and objects. It described these actions as heinous crimes that violate international humanitarian law and place civilian lives at direct risk. The command confirmed that Bahrain’s air defence units had engaged the incoming threats on July 13, 2026, successfully intercepting and destroying a number of the projectiles before they could reach their intended targets. Officials emphasised that such attacks form part of a broader pattern observed since the current Middle East conflict began.
According to the military command’s tally, Bahraini air defences have downed more than 120 missiles and nearly 190 unmanned aerial vehicles launched by Iran since the conflict erupted across the region. The statement placed the latest incident within this cumulative total, noting continued Iranian attempts to strike targets inside the kingdom. It further characterised the Iranian operations as a flagrant breach of established international norms governing armed conflict. The command called on the international community to recognise the threat posed by these repeated violations.
Iran has countered that its strikes focused on United States military facilities and associated infrastructure located within Bahrain rather than on civilian sites. The Bahraini military command rejected this claim in its statement, insisting the projectiles were deliberately directed at non-military areas. This disagreement highlights the competing narratives emerging from the escalating exchanges between the two sides. Regional observers have tracked similar accusations throughout the present round of hostilities.
A report carried by the Russian news agency TASS cited the Bahraini military press office as confirming the cumulative interception figures for missiles and UAVs. The agency noted that the defences had maintained a high rate of success in neutralising the threats over recent months. TASS added that the Bahraini command continues to monitor Iranian launch sites for further activity. The data underscores the scale of the aerial campaign directed at the kingdom.
Bahrain hosts significant United States naval assets, a factor that has drawn it into wider geopolitical tensions involving Iran and its proxies. The military command’s statement avoided direct reference to these bases while maintaining its focus on the civilian impact of the attacks. It reiterated that all necessary measures would be taken to safeguard national territory and population centres. Defence officials indicated that coordination with allied partners remains ongoing to address the threat.
The latest accusations arrive amid a period of heightened alert across several Gulf states facing similar risks from long-range projectiles. The Bahraini military command has previously documented comparable incidents, each time stressing the distinction between legitimate military targets and civilian infrastructure. Its July 13 statement repeated calls for de-escalation while affirming the right to self-defence under international law. Authorities have not released details of any damage or casualties from the intercepted strikes.
