Bahrain intercepts drone over residential areas with Patriot missile defense system

Bahrain’s Government Clarifies Incident Details

A Bahraini official has provided a revised account of an incident involving an Iranian drone intercepted by the country’s air defense system earlier this month. The incident occurred in the capital, Manama, on March 9.

According to the official, a Patriot air defense system successfully intercepted and destroyed an Iranian drone that had entered residential areas. This action prevented a potential drone strike and saved lives.

In contrast, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on March 9 that an Iranian drone had struck a residential neighborhood in Bahrain, injuring 32 civilians, including children who required medical treatment. CENTCOM stated that this was the actual event that occurred, contradicting reports from Russian and Iranian media that suggested a Patriot missile had missed its target.

The Ministry of Interior also confirmed that a 29-year-old Bahraini woman had been killed and eight people injured in the incident, which was attributed to “Iranian aggression.” The Bahrain Defence Force reported intercepting and destroying 102 missiles and 171 drones since Iran began targeting the country on February 28.

The discrepancy between Bahrain’s account and CENTCOM’s statement has not been addressed by the government. Al Jazeera has sought comment from CENTCOM regarding the difference in accounts, but no response has been received at this time.

Source: Al Jazeera