Iran Claims Attack on US Radar Site in Bahrain Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

OPA WIRE, Nov 13 (OPA) — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday that its Aerospace Force targeted and destroyed a US early-warning radar installation in Bahrain. The strike came in direct retaliation for what Tehran described as an enemy air attack on a telecommunications tower in the port city of Sirik, located in southern Iran's Hormozgan province. Neither Washington nor Manama issued an immediate comment regarding the reported strike in Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

In a statement published by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC characterized the operation as a serious warning to halt aerial provocations and alleged oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz. "Should these violations and acts of aggression recur, the IRGC Aerospace Force stands in full readiness to engage without limits," the statement said. According to Reuters, the operation marks the first time since early September that Iran has claimed a direct attack on American military infrastructure in a Gulf state.

The development coincides with heightened friction across the region following the onset of the conflict on February 28, driven by US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Israeli media reported that the security cabinet has ordered military preparations for a possible broader attack on Iran. Meanwhile, Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that any US military base involved in a renewed war, spanning from West Asia to Europe, would become a legitimate target for Iranian retaliation.

President Donald Trump stated that he remains prepared to return to military action if diplomatic efforts mediated by Qatar fail to secure an agreement. Conversely, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that existing economic pressure remains sufficient, rendering large-scale military operations unnecessary for now. US Central Command confirmed that its forces continue to enforce a strict naval blockade on Iranian ports as diplomatic and military positioning remains deadlocked.