The Bahrain Defence Force reported successfully intercepting and destroying multiple Iranian missiles and drones during an aerial attack on July 22, marking a continuation of what it described as Tehran’s hostile actions against Bahraini civilians. According to a statement from the Bahrain News Agency, the General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force condemned the attacks as deliberate violations of international humanitarian law, emphasizing the use of such weapons against civilian targets and private property.
The alerts extended beyond Bahrain’s borders. In Saudi Arabia, authorities issued a brief warning for the eastern city of Dammam, signaling a potential threat before lifting the alert approximately 10 minutes later. Meanwhile, in Jordan’s southern port city of Aqaba, missile sirens sounded amid reports of an Iranian missile attack. Videos from the area showed plumes of smoke, and residents reported hearing loud explosions. Officials in neighboring Israel also indicated that the missile strikes had targeted Jordan.
Separately, Iran’s Health Ministry reported casualties from ongoing U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian positions since June 27, stating that more than 50 Iranians have been killed and nearly 600 wounded as of July 22.
The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the recent missile and drone attacks by Iran on multiple countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The UAE criticized the Houthi movement’s threats against Saudi Arabia, specifically calls for a maritime blockade against the kingdom, describing these actions as escalatory and destabilizing.
On the diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at the ASEAN meeting in the Philippines, affirming Washington’s openness to diplomatic engagement with Iran. Rubio stressed, however, that the United States will not tolerate Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz or any attempts to hinder global maritime traffic through the vital shipping corridor.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has intensified its naval blockade against Iran, diverting eight commercial vessels and disabling another ship as part of its ongoing military operations now in their 11th consecutive night. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided an updated estimate of the conflict’s cost to the United States, reporting expenditures of $37.5 billion, a rise from a previous figure of $29 billion reported in mid-May.