Iran claimed on Friday, November 13, that it destroyed a U.S. early-warning radar in Bahrain, while U.S. Central Command said it shot down two Iranian drones heading toward Bahrain and reported no injuries or damage.
The claim that Iran struck the radar has not been confirmed. CENTCOM’s statement directly contradicted the Revolutionary Guard’s claim that the radar was hit. Iranian state media said the claimed attack was retaliation for what Tehran described as a U.S. airstrike on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province.
The Guard described its action as a warning to Washington to stop its strikes, according to reports. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, making the competing accounts significant for security in the Gulf. The incident took place during a fragile pause in the wider U.S.-Iran conflict.
The conflict has included attacks on bases in the region. It has also involved tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain’s information ministry did not comment immediately.
No independent confirmation of Iran’s radar claim was reported.