Manama / Tel Aviv / Doha / Abu Dhabi — The Middle East was rocked by a coordinated night of violence as Iran launched a direct strike on a US base in Bahrain while near-simultaneous blasts shook parts of Israel, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in what Tehran calls “regional punishment” for American and Israeli attacks.

In Bahrain, residents near the US Navy facilities reported a series of thunderous explosions and flashes over the coastline as air defences tried to intercept incoming missiles and drones. Authorities confirmed “significant damage” at a site hosting US personnel, with ambulances and military convoys flooding the area under tight security.

Across Israel, sirens wailed in multiple cities as rockets and suspected Iranian-made drones triggered interceptors over the night sky. Several impacts were reported on the outskirts of major urban centers, sparking fires and sending civilians racing to bomb shelters.

In Qatar and the UAE, secondary blasts near military and energy infrastructure rattled windows and briefly disrupted air traffic and port operations. Governments downplayed the extent of the damage but quietly raised alert levels around key installations.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard boasted that the attacks proved “no US base and no ally is beyond reach,” warning of further strikes if operations against Tehran continue. Analysts say the multi-country barrage marks a dangerous new phase, transforming a focused confrontation into a regionwide test of will and resilience.