Bahrain reported that the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet was hit by a missile attack. The country did not provide any other immediate details about the incident.
Mohamed Abdel-Al, an Egyptian teacher living in Bahrain, mentioned that he heard sirens and explosion sounds in the capital, Manama. He said he and many others were taking shelter in a mosque, reported AP.
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The US and Israel conducted an attack on Iran. The first noticeable strike occurred near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media reported strikes across the country, and smoke was visible rising from the capital.
US Navy's 5th Fleet command is responsible for securing shipping lanes in Middle East
The US Navy's 5th Fleet command, which the host nation Bahrain claimed was targeted in a missile attack, is responsible for securing the shipping lanes in the oil-rich Middle East, informed AP.
These waters include the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. The region has three key chokepoints: the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb at either end of the Red Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait if attacked. Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have stated they will resume attacks on shipping routes and on Israel.
The extent of the damage to the 5th Fleet headquarters was not immediately clear. The base is situated just southeast of central Manama, the capital of the island nation.
American ships that usually dock in Bahrain were reported to be at sea as recently as Tuesday, based on satellite images taken that day by Planet Labs PBC and analysed by The Associated Press.
'Time has come to defend homeland'
Responding to the joint strikes on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the country "will not hesitate" in its response to the renewed military aggression, reported AP. "The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy's military assault," the Foreign Ministry posted in a statement on X.
"Just as we were prepared for negotiations, we have been even more prepared for defense at all times. The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will decisively respond to the aggressors with full authority."
Iran confirms retaliation against strikes
Meanwhile, AP reported that Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed in a statement the country had begun responding to the joint strikes, saying its armed forces had "commenced a decisive response to these hostile acts".
The statement warned Iranians to avoid areas in the zones being targeted and that the government had made "prior arrangements" to ensure supply of basic necessities.
Schools and universities were ordered to close, while the statement said banks would continue to operate.
'Iran makes war preps with Iraqi militias'
Two officials from different Iran-backed militias in Iraq told The Associated Press that a meeting occurred two months ago between Iranian officials and allied Iraqi militias. They discussed plans for a response if Iran faced an attack, including assigning tasks among the Iraqi armed groups.
The officials requested anonymity since they were not authorised to speak publicly.
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One official mentioned that the response would focus on US forces and interests in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region and in neighboring Jordan.
US troops have left bases where they were stationed in Iraq, specifically in areas controlled by the central government in Baghdad. This change followed an agreement to end the military mission of the American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State. However, US troops remain in the Kurdish region.
Kataib Hezbollah, a prominent Iraqi militia, issued a public statement on Thursday. The group urged its fighters to prepare for a long war of attrition that may surpass the expectations of the US administration. They also warned the Kurdish regional government in Iraq against working with foreign forces that could threaten its security and future, reported AP.
