Iranian forces have carried out a direct attack on the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, launching ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in a significant escalation of regional tensions.

Smoke was widely seen rising over the Juffair district of Manama, where the U.S. naval command centre is located, following missile impacts near the facility.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck the Fifth Fleet in retaliation for recent military operations by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.

Bahraini authorities confirmed that multiple missiles targeted the naval base and surrounding areas, prompting air-raid sirens and emergency responses.

The attacks are part of a broader pattern of Iranian retaliation in which U.S. military installations in Gulf states including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were also targeted, according to official Iranian statements.

Bahrain’s defence forces, supported by allied air defence systems, reported the interception of at least forty-five ballistic missiles and nine unmanned aerial vehicles as of March first.

Despite successful interceptions, some projectiles reportedly caused fires and damage to buildings in Manama, including high-rise residential structures and commercial properties near the Fifth Fleet headquarters.

The strikes have disrupted normal operations and led to precautionary measures across the region, including airspace closures and shelter-in-place advisories.

No official casualty figures have been released by U.S. military authorities, and assessments of damage to the naval facilities continue.

The situation remains fluid as regional partners monitor further developments amid ongoing Iranian retaliatory actions.