A view of Manama, Bahrain, is shown in March of 2026. ()
MANAMA, Bahrain — A day of relative peace was shattered late Thursday afternoon in this capital city, home to U.S. sailors at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, as air sirens that have blared recurrently since Saturday warned of incoming Iranian attacks.
Moments earlier, Navy officials sent a text message to the military community, whose members were sheltering in place throughout the city.
“Seek hardened shelter immediately,” the emergency messaging system stated. “Real World.”
No U.S. casualties have been reported thus far in Bahrain, home to the U.S. 5th Fleet, as well as thousands of sailors and their families prior to the start of a war that has engulfed nations throughout the Middle East.
An air warning around 1:45 a.m. gave way to one of the longest periods of calm — about 16 hours — since Iran’s counterattacks began early Saturday morning. The second warning came in the afternoon, with another an hour later.
One of the Iranian missiles struck a state-run oil refinery, Bahraini officials said in a statement. The fire was extinguished and the refinery is still operating, the statement said.
There also were unconfirmed reports of explosions in Manama and Riffa, the island’s second-largest city, and a fire at the capital’s Salman Port, potentially from a missile impact.
U.S. sailors said they had hoped that the lull signaled a turning point. On Wednesday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said in Washington that Iran’s ballistic missile fire was down 86% and drone attacks were down 73% since the start of the fighting.
On Thursday, Bahrain’s defense ministry said its forces had intercepted 75 Iranian ballistic missiles, destroying 65, since the Iranian counterstrikes began. Bahrain also has intercepted 124 drones, downing 88, while 36 landed inside the country, The Associated Press reported.
Earlier in the week, Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa visited a supermarket, a hospital, shelters and other locations in Manama, the government said Tuesday in a statement.
In between Thursday’s missile warnings, few people and cars were visible on the streets, except for grocery delivery drivers and essential workers.
Sailors and base community members texted one another during the day to stay connected, offer support and share their concerns.
Meanwhile, NSA Bahrain’s medical team sent a message saying it was still available “for acute and time sensitive concerns.”
Patients with acute care needs were directed to schedule virtual appointments through the Defense Department’s online health portal.
NSA Bahrain is one of multiple U.S. bases that have come under attack in the Middle East, including locations in Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
The United States and Israel have attacked more than 2,000 positions in Iran, according to U.S. military figures. The attacks have eliminated much of Iran’s senior military leadership, U.S. officials have said.
Bahrain, an island kingdom with a bridge connecting it to Saudi Arabia, is about 128 miles across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
