Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the U.S. base in Bahrain 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 missile attack was confirmed by Tasnim News Agency, a semiofficial Iranian outlet associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Air raid sirens and missile warnings went out across the region Saturday after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran.
U.S. embassies in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Israel advised Americans to shelter in place.
Qatar intercepted a number of attacks aimed at the country, the Defense Ministry said. Jordan also intercepted two ballistic missiles, Reuters reported.
President Donald Trump said in a video posted to social media shortly after strikes began that the mission, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, would raze Iran’s missile industry to the ground and annihilate its navy.
He also acknowledged that the U.S. may experience casualties.
“I do not make this statement lightly: the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Trump said. “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this, not for now, we’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
@Stars & Stripes
