Bahrain's air defence systems intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial attacks on Sunday, November 15, before they could reach their intended targets, the Bahrain Defence Force said.The military said all its units remained at the highest level of readiness and were prepared to defend the Kingdom amid continuing regional tensions.Earlier today, Bahrain's Ministry of Interior issued two safety alerts, at 5.32am

and 7.50am, warning of a potential threat.

Citizens and residents were urged to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location and follow updates through official channels.The ministry also called on the public to remain alert, prioritise safety and follow instructions from the authorities..

Authorities have cautioned the public against relying on unverified information and called on everyone to cooperate with the relevant authorities as the situation develops. .Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here..

What residents have been toldIn its latest advisory, the Ministry of Interior urged citizens and residents to:Remain calm.Proceed to the nearest safe location.Follow updates through official channels.Comply with instructions issued by the authorities.The ministry said the advisory was issued as a precaution to protect public safety.

It did not specify the nature of the potential threat..Bahrain warns of threat to regional securityThe Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the Bahrain Defence Force for intercepting the latest drone and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s readiness to deter further attacks.Bahrain described the incidents as a resumption of Iranian attacks against the Kingdom and other countries in the region, saying they

violated international law, the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.It said the attacks threatened the safety of citizens and residents, as well as regional security and stability.Iran's Guards claim drone attackIran's Revolutionary Guards said their forces carried out a drone attack on a US radar system at a base in Bahrain, according to a statement carried by the Iranian state broadcaster on

Sunday."The US air defense radar system at the Al-Riffa helicopter base in Bahrain was targeted by six drones belonging to the IRGC Aerospace Force," the Guards said in a statement posted by the state broadcaster on Telegram."The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and any aggression by the American enemy will be met with an even harsher and more forceful response," it added.

During eight months of war, Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz oil trade route and struck infrastructure including airports, seaports, energy facilities, and US assets across the region.Bahrain rejects Iran’s justificationsThe ministry rejected the IRGC’s stated justifications, saying no pretext could legitimise violations of another country’s sovereignty.It also stressed that freedom of

navigation and transit through international straits, by sea and air, is guaranteed under international law and cannot be made subject to conditions imposed by any state.Bahrain rejected the use of its territory to settle disputes and held Iran fully responsible for the attacks and their consequences.Kingdom reaffirms right to self-defenceBahrain said it has the right to individual and collective self-defence under

Article 51 of the UN Charter and to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents.The Kingdom will coordinate with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states under the Joint Defence Agreement, which considers an attack against one member an attack against all.

It will also work with its allies and partners.Bahrain calls on UN Security Council to actAs a member of the UN Security Council, Bahrain called on the Council to condemn the repeated attacks and take firm action to ensure Iran complies fully with Resolution 2817.It urged the Council to press Iran to end its attacks and threats and stop supporting proxy groups in the region.The ministry said Bahrain’s security was

a red line and its sovereignty non-negotiable, while reiterating the Kingdom’s commitment to good-neighbourly relations, respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.Why Bahrain is strategically importantBahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, making the island strategically significant amid the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.The latest alert comes

against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf and concerns over security in the region.What happened in the Nov 13 drone incident?On November 13, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iranian forces had launched two one-way attack drones towards Bahrain, both of which were intercepted and shot down by US forces.The statement followed a claim by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it had

attacked a US early-warning radar in Bahrain.CENTCOM rejected the claim, saying the two drones had been shot down and there had been no injuries or damage.Iran's assertion that it had destroyed the radar was not substantiated by CENTCOM.

There is no independently verified indication that US military facilities in Bahrain have been struck.. Latest alert does not confirm a new attackThe scale and nature of the potential threat mentioned in Sunday's advisory remain unclear. The ministry has not confirmed that a new attack has taken place.The renewed warnings come amid heightened…