In one of the most dramatic moments of Operation Epic Fury, an Iranian missile struck near the headquarters of the US Navy‘s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain — the nerve center of American naval power in the Persian Gulf. Smoke was seen rising from the Juffair area where Naval Support Activity Bahrain is located, and the Bahraini government confirmed the strike in an official statement.
The attack on the Fifth Fleet’s home base represents Iran’s most audacious military action against the United States in decades — directly targeting the command hub that oversees all US naval operations in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and surrounding waters.
What Happened at NSA Bahrain
According to multiple reports from the Bahraini government and US military officials, at least one Iranian ballistic missile impacted in the vicinity of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain in the Juffair district of Manama. Video footage circulating on social media showed a visible explosion and plumes of smoke rising from the area.
The strike came as part of Iran’s broader retaliatory operation, codenamed “Truthful Promise 4” by the IRGC. Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles and drones at US military installations across the Gulf region, including bases in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, and Iraq.
The Bahrain strike is particularly significant because NSA Bahrain serves as the headquarters for:
- US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)
- US Fifth Fleet
- Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)
These commands oversee approximately 20,000 US military personnel and dozens of warships operating in the region. The base has been a cornerstone of American military presence in the Gulf since the 1940s.
Casualty Situation: Conflicting Reports
The casualty situation from the Bahrain strike remains unclear, with conflicting information emerging from different sources. Initial reports suggested possible casualties, but NBC News later reported that as of 6:32 PM EST on February 28, no American casualties had been confirmed from any of Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
CENTCOM stated that Iranian strikes caused “minimal damage” across all US installations and that operations remained “unaffected.” However, it remains unclear whether the missile that struck near Juffair hit within the base perimeter or in the surrounding civilian area.
One confirmed casualty from Iran’s broader retaliatory strikes was a Pakistani national killed in the UAE when missile debris fell on Abu Dhabi, according to the UAE Ministry of Defense.
The Full Scope of Iran’s Retaliation
The attack on the Fifth Fleet headquarters was part of a coordinated Iranian missile and drone barrage targeting US and allied military installations across at least six countries:
- Bahrain: NSA Bahrain / Fifth Fleet HQ — missile impact confirmed near base
- Kuwait: Ali al-Salem Air Base — missiles intercepted, some debris reported
- Qatar: Al Udeid Air Base — attacks reported, damage assessment ongoing
- UAE: Al Dhafra Air Base and surrounding areas — drone debris caused casualties in Abu Dhabi
- Iraq: Erbil (Kurdistan Region) — missile attacks on US facilities
- Jordan: US military positions targeted
- Saudi Arabia: Intercepts reported over Saudi airspace
Iran’s IRGC claimed to have targeted 14 US military bases across the region, though many of their missiles were intercepted by US and allied air defense systems including Patriot batteries, THAAD systems, and ship-based Aegis missile defense.
Why the Fifth Fleet Matters
The US Fifth Fleet is arguably the most strategically important naval command in the world. Based in Bahrain since 1995 (with roots going back to the 1940s), it controls all US naval operations in an area spanning approximately 2.5 million square miles — including the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
The Fifth Fleet’s area of responsibility includes three of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints:
- Strait of Hormuz: Through which 20% of the world’s oil passes daily
- Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden
- Suez Canal: Linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea
An attack on the Fifth Fleet’s headquarters is, symbolically and operationally, an attack on America’s ability to project naval power across the entire Middle East.
Strait of Hormuz: Effectively Closed
Adding to the crisis, the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of global oil transits — has been effectively shut down. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed that sea vessels received closure messages, and commercial shipping has halted through the strait.
The closure of Hormuz is an economic weapon of massive proportions. Approximately 21 million barrels of oil pass through the strait daily, and its closure could trigger an immediate spike in global oil prices, potentially pushing crude past $150 per barrel.
US Response and Force Posture
Despite the attacks on its bases, the US military has maintained operational readiness across the region. CENTCOM’s statement that operations remain “unaffected” suggests that American forces were prepared for Iranian retaliation and had implemented protective measures in advance.
The US currently has an enormous military footprint in the Gulf region, including carrier strike groups, amphibious ready groups, and pre-positioned air assets. The fact that Iran chose to strike at the heart of this presence — the Fifth Fleet headquarters itself — demonstrates Tehran’s willingness to escalate to previously unthinkable levels.
What This Means Going Forward
The strike near the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain crosses a red line that has existed since the establishment of the US military presence in the Gulf. While Iran has previously targeted US forces through proxy attacks — most notably the 2020 missile strike on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq — a direct Iranian military strike on the headquarters of US naval operations in the Gulf represents an entirely new level of escalation.
The question now is whether this attack — combined with the broader Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region — will trigger a further American military response, or whether diplomatic channels can prevent the conflict from spiraling further.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi stated in an NBC interview that Iran is “willing to talk and de-escalate” if the US and Israel halt their attacks. Whether that offer survives the aftermath of the Fifth Fleet strike remains to be seen.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as new information becomes available.
Sources: Military.com, Al Jazeera, NBC News, Bahrain Government Statement