Was the Bahrain Explosion Caused by US Patriot Missiles? Experts Weigh In

Daniel Kim | 2026.03.22

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Analysis suggests the explosion in Bahrain earlier this month likely came from a U.S. Patriot interceptor missile, not an Iranian drone.

Reuters, citing an analysis by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey on March 22 (local time), reported that the March 9 blast in the Sitra residential area — which injured 32 civilians — may have originated from a missile fired from a nearby U.S. battery.

At the time, U.S. and Bahraini authorities said the incident was caused by an Iranian drone attack.

In response to Reuters' inquiry, the Bahraini government acknowledged that a Patriot missile was involved but maintained that its forces were attempting to intercept a drone.

The U.S. Defense Department declined to comment.

#US #Israel #Iran #FriendlyFire #Patriot #Bahrain

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Eunarae Kang (rae@yna.co.kr)