Several residential buildings in Manama were struck by Iranian missiles, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Saturday evening. 

The ministry said Civil Defence teams were continuing firefighting and rescue operations at the affected sites.

Eyewitnesses reported that a missile hit a high-rise building in the Hoora district, one of the tallest structures in the area, as Iran launched strikes across the region in what it described as retaliation for a “massive” and ongoing attack by the United States and Israel.

Video footage circulating among residents appeared to show the moment a missile struck the Hoora tower.

Earlier, Iranian missiles also targeted a US naval facility in Bahrain. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising near the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait — all of which host US military bases — said they intercepted missiles fired in their direction, underscoring fears of a widening regional escalation.

Bahrain strongly condemned and denounced the treacherous Iranian missile attacks targeting the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, in flagrant violation of their sovereignty, security and stability.

These attacks constituted a serious threat to the safety and lives of civilians and residents and demonstrated blatant disregard for international law, established norms and the principles of good neighbourliness, it said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the effectiveness of the air defence systems of Bahrain and the other brotherly Arab states, which intercepted and downed a number of missiles, while others struck certain sites and facilities.

The Ministry affirmed that the armed forces in these states remain fully prepared to deter any attacks that threaten the security and safety of brotherly Arab states and violate their sovereignty and independence.

The Ministry called on the international community to condemn this criminal aggression and to take an immediate and decisive stance to halt these hostile acts that endanger the lives of civilians and residents.

It reaffirmed that the states retain their legitimate right to respond and take the necessary measures to preserve their sovereignty, security, stability and the safety of their citizens and residents.