Bahrain’s Defence Force successfully intercepted and destroyed several Iranian missiles and drones targeting the kingdom on July 12-13, marking yet another chapter in a conflict that has kept the Persian Gulf on edge since late February. The aerial attacks, which triggered air-raid sirens across the island nation, represent a significant escalation in hostilities that now directly threatens one of the most strategically important military footprints in the Middle East.

Bahrain is home to the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, which makes every incoming missile a potential flashpoint for a much wider conflict.

The scope of Iran’s aerial campaign

By early April 2026, the BDF had already recorded at least 188 intercepted…