Bahrain says it shot down 364 Iranian missiles and drones since war began
2026-03-18 - 10:39
Bahrain's defense forces announced Wednesday they have intercepted and destroyed a total of 364 Iranian projectiles since the beginning of retaliatory strikes against the kingdom, as the widening Middle East conflict continues to engulf Gulf states. The latest figures reveal the scale of attacks facing US allies in the region. Air defenses under constant pressure The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force confirmed that air defense systems are "continuing to confront successive waves of Iranian attacks," having successfully shot down 130 ballistic missiles and 234 drones targeting the kingdom. The statement urged citizens to exercise "the highest levels of caution," stay away from damaged sites and suspicious objects, and refrain from photographing military operations or debris impact locations. Authorities emphasized the importance of obtaining information from official sources and following instructions issued by relevant agencies. Legal condemnation issued In its statement, the Bahraini armed forces characterized the use of ballistic missiles and drones against civilian facilities and private property as "a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the UN Charter." The kingdom stressed that such attacks constitute a direct threat to regional peace and security, aligning its position with other Gulf states that have found themselves in the crossfire of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Regional conflict widens The attacks on Bahrain come as part of Iran's broader retaliation against the joint US-Israeli offensive that began Feb. 28, which has killed approximately 1,300 people including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation. For Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the sustained bombardment represents a direct challenge to its security and sovereignty.