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US military base in Bahrain hit as Iran launches retaliatory missile attack against Israel and America

US military base in Bahrain hit as Iran launches retaliatory missile attack against Israel and America

A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Photograph: (AFP)

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Has Iran struck back at US forces in the Gulf? Bahrain says a site linked to the US Fifth Fleet was hit, while Qatar reportedly intercepted an incoming missile near Al Udeid Air Base.

With joint US-Israel strikes underway and Tehran responding, how far could this escalate?

Bahrain reported on Saturday (Feb 28) that a facility housing the US Fifth Fleet headquarters was struck by a missile as Iran launched its retaliatory attacks following US and Israeli strikes. "The Fifth Fleet's service centre was subjected to a missile attack. We will provide you with details later," Bahrain's National Communication Centre said in a statement. This comes as Israel and the United States, in conjunction, launched military strikes against Iran. The joint military operation, which is being called Operation Fury by the US and Operation Lion's Roar by Israel, has struck around 30 targets in Iran.

Qatar intercepts incoming missile

Meanwhile, in Qatar, air defence systems were activated as warning sirens sounded across parts of the country. An official told AFP that a US-made Patriot interceptor brought down an Iranian missile mid-air.

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Qatar hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the region.

Targets hit across Iran

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Israeli media reported that roughly 30 locations were struck in the opening phase of the joint military operation that is being called Operation Fury by the US and Operation Lion's Roar by Israel. Among them were sites linked to Iran's leadership and intelligence apparatus. Explosions and plumes of smoke were seen rising over parts of Tehran. The extent of the damage remains unclear.

According to the Israeli military, their strikes on Iran, conducted in collaboration with the US, hit many military sites and were planned jointly by the allies for months. "The strike targeted dozens of military targets and was carried out as part of a broad, coordinated, and joint operation against the regime," the army said in a statement.

"In the months preceding the strike, close and joint planning was conducted between the IDF and the US military, enabling the execution of the broad strike in full synchronisation and coordination between the two militaries," it added.

Questions over Khamenei’s whereabouts

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are uncertain. Reports suggest a strike took place near his headquarters in the Iranian capital, Tehran. It is not known whether he was present at the time or if he was injured in the strike. According to Reuters, an Iranian official said Khamenei had been moved to a secure location.

Trump issues stark ultimatum to Iranian troops

Soon after the strikes, President Trump confirmed that American forces were involved in what he described as major combat operations. In a video message posted on his Truth Social, the US president ominously warned the “Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the Armed Forces, and all of the police” that they must surrender or be killed. He promised that those who surrender will be “treated fairly” and that they'll be granted “total immunity”.


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Moohita Kaur Garg

Moohita Kaur Garg is a journalist and Senior Sub-Editor at WION News with five years of experience covering the volatile intersections of geopolitics and global security. She has e...Read More