TEHRAN July 30, 2026 – Iran’s military said on Thursday that it conducted drone attacks targeting US forces at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, according to Iranian state media reports circulating widely on social platforms.
The announcement described strikes using Arash kamikaze drones against power generators, navigation systems, and administrative and support buildings at the base as part of what Tehran called the 26th wave of “Operation Sa’eqeh.” The claim was amplified by accounts including BRICS News (@BRICSinfo), which posted a brief “JUST IN” alert stating that Iran had struck US military assets in Bahrain.
Sheikh Isa Air Base hosts American personnel and equipment as part of the broader US military presence in the kingdom. Bahrain is also home to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which has been repeatedly targeted since the start of the 2026 Iran-US conflict in late February.
Iranian statements framed the latest action as retaliation for recent US airstrikes inside Iran. Similar claims of attacks on US-linked sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan have been issued multiple times in recent weeks, including a notable announcement on July 24 that specifically mentioned fuel tanks, warehouses, and barracks at Isa Air Base.
Independent confirmation of damage or casualties from the Thursday strikes was not immediately available. In previous rounds of attacks, Bahraini authorities have reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles, while US Central Command has generally stated that most incoming threats were neutralized and that operations continued with limited disruption. Satellite imagery analyzed earlier this year by The Wall Street Journal showed significant damage to command facilities and other infrastructure at the Fifth Fleet base from earlier Iranian missile and drone barrages, though the Pentagon has emphasized that personnel protection remained the priority.
The exchange forms part of the prolonged 2026 conflict that has seen both sides conduct repeated strikes across the Persian Gulf region, disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and prompting ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore a ceasefire. No immediate official response from the US military or the Bahraini government specifically addressing the latest Iranian claim had been issued at the time of reporting.
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