Iran launched two suicide drones toward Bahrain on Friday, marking its first attempt to strike a military facility in a Gulf state in two months as hopes for a diplomatic deal fade.
American forces intercepted both drones, and US Central Command reported no injuries or damage. The incident breaks a relative lull that began in early September, during which Tehran had refrained from targeting US installations in Gulf states and focused instead on maritime traffic.
🔺 Iran’s IRGC says it struck and destroyed a U. S. early-warning radar in Bahrain early Friday, in retaliation for an air attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, southern Iran. It warned of further retaliation if attacks continue. Reuters reports this is Iran’s first…
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump declared that Washington no longer needs an agreement with Tehran.
“We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed!”
said Donald Trump, US President on Truth Social.
“We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!” US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social.
Conflicting Claims Over the Bahrain Radar
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement on Friday morning claiming responsibility for the operation. “A few hours ago, the IRGC's aerospace forces, in response to the enemy's aerial aggression against a communication tower in Sirik, targeted and destroyed the early warning radar of the aggressor US military in Bahrain,” the IRGC said, according to the Tasnim news agency.
The IRGC described the action as retaliation for an American aerial attack against a telecommunications tower in Sirik, located in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province. The Jerusalem Post said that CENTCOM immediately denied the Iranian claim regarding the radar destruction, maintaining that the facility was untouched.
While Washington and Tehran trade accusations, the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 continues to pressure regional logistics. Maritime intelligence group Lloyd’s List reported Friday that October saw 37 vessel attacks in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marking the highest monthly total of the conflict so far, with at least 14 additional attacks confirmed in November.
Strait of Hormuz Shipping and Market Rebalancing
| Timeline / Metric | Reported Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| February 28, 2026 | Initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran initiate regional conflict. | The Jerusalem Post |
| October 2026 | 37 vessel attacks recorded in the Strait of Hormuz (monthly high). | Lloyd’s List |
| November 2026 | At least 14 additional vessel attacks confirmed in the waterway. | Lloyd’s List |
| Friday, November 13, 2026 | Two suicide drones launched toward Bahrain and intercepted by CENTCOM. | US Central Command |
Despite record disruptions in the maritime corridor, oil continues to flow through the waterway. The International Energy Agency stated on Friday that the oil market is showing tentative signs of rebalancing as Middle East exports recover faster than global demand.
“to end the state of neither war nor peace,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday regarding instructions from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to his government. Pezeshkian added that the Islamic Republic can negotiate and finish the conflict with dignity.
Earlier coverage: Iran Says IRGC Destroyed US Radar in Bahrain in Retaliatory Strike
