The authorities in Bahrain have "strongly condemned" this Sunday a new incursion of Israeli drones into their airspace and, although they claim that the threat was neutralized by their defenses before reaching the intended targets, they have attributed all responsibility for the offensive to Iran and the consequences it may entail.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this Sunday’s action adds to another similar attack recorded in the early hours of Friday, when two drones launched from Iranian territory were intercepted. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has explicitly assumed responsibility for both operations.
The Bahrain Defence Forces have emphasized their capacity for response and readiness in the face of this type of threats, while the authorities activated again the sirens and alert systems during Sunday morning, asking the population to take shelter. The Ministry of the Interior has urged citizens and residents to "remain calm, go to the nearest safe place, and follow the news only through official channels".
Manama holds that these attacks violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in addition to contravening United Nations Security Council resolution 2817, which condemns Iranian aggressions against Bahrain and other States in the region and demands their immediate cessation. It has also warned that these actions put the civilian population at risk, hinder attempts to de-escalate tension, and threaten regional security.
Bahrain asserts its right to legitimate self-defense
The Bahrain government has also rejected the explanations offered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has reiterated that "no pretext justifies aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States".
In this line, it has defended the protection of freedom of navigation and air and maritime transit through international straits, considering that this is a right protected by International Law.
Bahrain has also reaffirmed its right to legitimate self-defense, both individually and collectively, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. To that end, it has underscored its coordination with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), within the framework of the joint defense agreement that establishes that an aggression against one of its members is understood as an attack against all.
As a member of the UN Security Council, the Kingdom has asked the body to condemn these attacks and take "firm" measures to ensure compliance with resolution 2817, as well as an end to the aggressions, threats, and Iranian backing of proxy groups in the area.
In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has underscored that national security "is a red line" and that its sovereignty "is non-negotiable," while reiterating at the same time Bahrain's commitment to good neighborliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and stability in the Persian Gulf.
These latest incidents fit into an escalation of tension between the United States and Iran after eight months of conflict, in a scenario in which Tehran has imposed restrictions on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy supplies, while Washington maintains a naval blockade device over Iranian ports.