Patriot missile involved in Bahrain blast likely U.S.-operated, analysis finds

Analysis reveals a U.S.-operated Patriot missile likely caused a pre-dawn explosion in Bahrain, injuring numerous civilians.

An American-operated Patriot air defence battery likely fired the interceptor missile involved in a pre-dawn explosion that injured dozens of civilians and tore through homes in U.S.-ally Bahrain 10 days into the war on Iran, according to an analysis by academic researchers examined by Reuters.

Both Bahrain and Washington have blamed an Iranian drone attack for the March 9 blast, which the Gulf kingdom said injured 32 people including children, some seriously.

Also Read | Iran targets Gulf energy installations as oil prices surge

Commenting on the day of the attack, U.S. Central Command said on X that an Iranian drone struck a residential ​neighbourhood in Bahrain. In response to questions from Reuters, Bahrain on Saturday (March 21, 2026) acknowledged for the first time that a Patriot missile was involved in the explosion over the Mahazza neighbourhood on Sitra island, offshore from the capital Manama and also home to an oil refinery.

In a statement, a Bahraini government spokesperson said the missile successfully intercepted an Iranian drone mid-air, saving lives.

“The damage ‌and injuries sustained were not a result of a direct impact to the ground of either the Patriot interceptor or the Iranian drone,” the spokesperson said. Neither Bahrain or Washington has provided evidence that an Iranian drone was involved in the Mahazza ​incident.