Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain once again as regional military tensions escalated, prompting authorities to urge residents to seek shelter.

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior called on citizens and foreign nationals to remain calm and move immediately to the nearest safe locations after warning sirens were activated across the country.

The ministry did not immediately provide details on the nature of the threat but advised the public to follow official instructions and emergency guidance until further notice.

The renewed alert came after similar warning sirens were activated earlier in the day as security conditions across the Gulf deteriorated.

The latest developments followed reports of escalating military exchanges involving the United States and Iran.

Iranian media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian targets. Iranian authorities said ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones were used in the operation.

Earlier, the U.S. military had accused Iran of targeting commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, an allegation that contributed to the latest escalation in regional tensions.

Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and remains one of Washington's key security partners in the Gulf, making it a strategically significant location during periods of heightened regional instability. (ILKHA