Bahrain activates sirens, urges public to shelter as regional attacks escalate

MANAMA, Bahrain — Bahrain's Interior Ministry said sirens sounded in the early hours of Tuesday and urged citizens and residents to move to the nearest safe location and follow official channels for updates. The ministry did not disclose the cause of the sirens or any specific threat. The alert came as the United Arab Emirates Defense Ministry said two of its tanker vessels had been targeted by Iran around the same time, with nine crew members reported killed or wounded. US Central Command announced a new round of airstrikes against Iran, which it said responded with multiple missiles. US President Donald Trump said the strikes had targeted Iranian capabilities along the Strait of Hormuz and described a more effective blockade on Iran, adding that a deal with Tehran remained possible. A US official said the operations hit Iranian military facilities, surveillance systems, drones and missiles. No further details on the circumstances behind Bahrain's sirens or the broader escalation were immediately available.