It was the message U.S. military families in Bahrain had been waiting for amid weeks of stalled U.S. talks with Iran and a massive buildup of forces in the Middle East: “THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

Republicans this week raised alarm that the funding lapse has left the Coast Guard without the resources it needs to support escalating military operations in the Middle East, where it has maintained a permanent presence.

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. U.S. sailors said they had hoped that the lull signaled a turning point.

U.S. forces across the Middle East continued to endure air raid sirens and explosions as Operation Epic Fury stretched into its second week.