5th Fleet Naval Center in Bahrain goes Kablooey

[orangecrush]

?si=KoghQjtPw9ND5raZ

[cbabe]

1. Counterstrikes continue at US Navy base in Bahrain Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-02-2

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-02-28/strikes-on-bahrain-iran-israel-20902624.html

Counterstrikes continue at US Navy base in Bahrain

By LARA KORTE AND SHANNON RENFROE STARS AND STRIPES • February 28, 2026


MANAMA, Bahrain — Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the U.S. base here Saturday after Iranian forces said they targeted the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. Shortly after the U.S. announced major combat operations in Iran this morning, military personnel and residents were warned about an incoming missile attack. Within minutes, explosions could be heard across the city. The attacks have continued for hours. Multiple explosions rocked the capital of Manama on Saturday afternoon, as air raid warning sirens blared and armored vehicles convoyed along roads.
…

The U.S. has numerous installations across the Middle East that could be targets for Iranian strikes. In addition to Bahrain and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to thousands of American troops and their family members, there also are large bases in Kuwait and other locations where U.S. forces operate in Iraq.

Bahrain hosts U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters and the Navy’s 5th Fleet, with about 8,300 sailors stationed there. It is also one of the few accompanied postings in the region, with hundreds of spouses and family members living on the island. During the 12-day conflict with Iran last summer, many families temporarily left under an authorized departure. The base also hosts the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational coalition of 47 countries tasked with countering illegal drug and weapons smuggling activities in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. The Pentagon has also surged military assets into Jordan and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. The buildup for the attack on Iran has also involved European locations such as Greece, where the Navy’s installation at Souda Bay has seen increased U.S. military activity.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2026-02-28/strikes-on-bahrain-iran-israel-20902624.html
Source - Stars and Stripes

//

[yardwork]

2. FAFO on us.

[Zorro]

3. I'd be evacuating the Burj Khalifa

[orangecrush]

4. Good point

[SeattleVet]

8. They HAVE evacuated the Burj Khalifa.

https://www.wionews.com/world/burj-khalifa-evacuated-the-palm-hit-and-dubai-airport-ops-shut-as-uae-intercepts-iranian-missiles-1772295883100

[orangecrush]

16. Nice big shiny target

Er, object.

[Arazi]

5. They hit the radome there. That's a mighty expensive bit to be hit immediately

Guarantee many American troops are already dead.

Taken out by a fucking shahed. We’ve learned nothing from the Ukrainians who’ve honed incredible new skills in air defense against these things

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iranian-strike-missile-defence-radars-bahrain-qatar

[Greg_In_SF]

7. No one died

The bomb hit an empty section of the base.

[PufPuf23]

9. More precise targeting by Iran than I expected. Why no Iron Dome

on our military installations located within the boundaries of Arab allies?

Iron Dome

The Iron Dome (Hebrew: כִּפַּת בַּרְזֶל, romanized: Kippat Barzel) is an Israeli mobile all-weather air defense system,[8] developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries.[7] The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometres (2–43 mi) away and whose trajectory would take them to an Israeli populated area.[9][10] From 2011 to 2021, the United States contributed a total of US$1.6 billion to the Iron Dome defense system,[11] with another US$1 billion approved by the US Congress in 2022

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome

[sarisataka]

11. Probably because only Israel has the Iron Dome system

the US does not

[PufPuf23]

12. The USA paid for the Iron Dome system in Israel.

One would think that the American military and associated Americans located in the Middle East would warrants equal protection equal to that provided Israel.

[sarisataka]

13. From your link-

The initial funding and development of the Iron Dome system was provided and undertaken by Israel

Part of the agreement for the continuing US support of the Iron Dome is sharing of the technology but the US has not developed its own version yet. The Iron Dome is primarily for short range threats, not a priority for the US which focuses more on Intermediate and Strategic range threats.

[pfitz59]

10. I was in Manama in 1991

When an Iraqi SCUD landed near my hotel.

[orangecrush]

15. Glad you survived

Sounds like a terrifying experience.

[PCIntern]

14. "Kablooey"? This is not satire-worthy

There are American men and women at gigantic risk.

[Attilatheblond]

17. If I had an office or apartment in Trump Tower, I'd be packed up and moving out about now

[orangecrush]

18. Same