Bahrain says it intercepted 445 drones, 188 missiles since Feb. 28

Bahrain’s military has released striking figures detailing the scale of aerial threats it has faced since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran. In an official statement posted on X, the Bahrain Defense Force said its air defense units intercepted and destroyed 445 drones and 188 missiles between February 28 and the present. The statement noted that the attacks originated from Iran and that air defense systems remain on high alert to counter what it described as “malicious Iranian aggression.”

Gulf states under fire

Bahrain, which hosts US military assets including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, has found itself directly in the crosshairs of Tehran’s retaliation campaign. Since the US and Israel launched their joint air offensive against Iran on February 28—an operation that has killed more than 1,340 people, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—Iran has responded with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting American forces. The interception numbers from Bahrain underscore the intensity of the aerial campaign and the pressure on Gulf air defense networks.

Türkiye’s perspective

For Türkiye, which maintains close economic and diplomatic ties with Gulf nations while also balancing relations with Iran, the scale of intercepted projectiles over Bahrain highlights the widening geographical reach of the conflict. Ankara has repeatedly warned that the war risks engulfing the entire region, destabilizing energy markets and threatening shipping lanes critical to global trade. Turkish officials continue to call for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic resolution, emphasizing that no Gulf state should be forced to bear the brunt of a conflict it did not choose.