Iran Strike on US Early-Warning Radar in Bahrain, First Such Attack Since September

 Darwin, November 13: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that it targeted and destroyed a US early-warning radar installation in Bahrain, marking the first such claim of an attack on American military assets in a Gulf country since early September.

The IRGC said the operation was carried out in retaliation for what it described as an airstrike on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province.

The claim was reported on Friday by Iranian state media and comes amid a fragile lull in the conflict between Iran and the United States, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequently spread across the region.

According to a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the IRGC Aerospace Force targeted the US radar system on the island of Bahrain a few hours after the alleged attack on the telecommunications facility.

The Guards described the operation as a “serious warning” to what they called an “aggressor enemy”, demanding an end to aerial provocations and what they alleged was oil smuggling through the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC warned that its Aerospace Force was fully prepared to respond without geographical restrictions if similar violations or acts of aggression occurred again.

Iran’s Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, reported that the radar installation had been “targeted and destroyed”. However, the extent of the damage has not been independently verified.

No immediate confirmation from Washington or Bahrain

Neither the United States nor Bahrain immediately commented on Iran’s claim.

Bahrain is strategically important to the US military presence in the Gulf as it hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which oversees American naval operations across a large part of the Middle East.

The alleged targeting of a US early-warning radar could therefore carry wider security implications for American military operations and regional air defence arrangements.

However, no independent information has so far emerged confirming whether the radar was destroyed or whether the reported attack caused any casualties.

First such claim since early September

According to Reuters, this is the first time since early September that Iran has claimed an attack on American military assets in a Gulf country.

The latest development follows months of military confrontation between Iran and the United States and Israel.

Following the outbreak of the war on February 28, Iran launched missile and drone attacks against US military bases in several Gulf countries. Tehran also sought to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for international oil and gas supplies.

Washington responded by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The latest incident comes as tensions remain high despite a reduction in the intensity of direct military confrontations.

Dispute over Sirik and the Strait of Hormuz

The immediate trigger for Iran’s latest announcement was an alleged attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, a port area in Hormozgan province near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing official sources, reported that Sirik had come under what it described as “enemy fire” on Thursday.

The IRGC subsequently linked the alleged attack to its operation against the US radar in Bahrain.

In its statement, the Iranian military force also accused the United States and its allies of carrying out aerial provocations and facilitating oil smuggling through the Strait of Hormuz.

The warning suggests that Tehran is linking the security of its territory with developments in the strategically important waterway, where tensions over shipping and oil exports have remained a major source of confrontation.

Regional tensions remain unresolved

The latest claim comes amid continuing uncertainty over the future of the conflict.

Iranian officials have warned that any renewed military campaign against the country could lead to attacks on military installations involved in operations against Tehran.

Meanwhile, the United States continues to enforce restrictions on Iranian maritime trade through its naval blockade.

Although the intensity of direct attacks has eased, the latest developments indicate that the confrontation remains unresolved. Any further military action involving US installations in the Gulf could increase pressure on regional governments and threaten the security of vital energy routes.

For now, the Iranian claim of destroying the US radar in Bahrain remains unconfirmed by Washington or Manama.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Tasnim News Agency