Bahrain reported that Iran launched a drone attack against the country and a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, following U.S. retaliatory strikes against Tehran for violating a 60-day ceasefire. This incident raises concerns about the stability of a recent memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, which was tested earlier when Iran fired on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. responses.
Bahrain stated that it was struck by multiple Iranian drones, which it described as a significant threat to its citizens' security. Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, although the crew remained safe. The British military confirmed that the tanker sustained damage from an unidentified projectile.
Following these incidents, Iran's military announced that it targeted several unspecified locations associated with the U.S. military in the Persian Gulf. Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, accused Iran of destabilizing the region and violating international norms by targeting civilian objects. The U.S. government expressed hope that the recent exchanges of fire would not lead to a complete breakdown of the ceasefire, with a U.S. official indicating that the situation does not currently suggest a return to major combat operations.