WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) – The U.S. Embassy in Manama has ordered all American government employees in Bahrain to shelter in place and advised U.S. citizens in the Gulf kingdom to do the same, citing heightened regional security concerns. The directive came as Bahrain reported fresh Iranian drone attacks that injured two people and damaged several homes in the Sitra area, hours after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire.
“The U.S. Embassy in Manama has directed all U.S. government employees to shelter in place. We recommend all Americans in Bahrain do the same until further notice,” the embassy said in a security alert posted on April 7. The alert urged Americans to remain in secure structures, stay away from windows, and maintain a supply of food, water and medications. Routine consular services at the embassy remain suspended.
The shelter-in-place order follows Iranian drone and missile attacks across several Gulf countries on April 8, despite a ceasefire agreement announced by Washington and Tehran on April 7. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said two citizens sustained minor injuries and several houses were damaged in Sitra from shrapnel after the interception of an Iranian drone. The ministry also reported that civil defense crews extinguished a fire at a facility targeted by what it called “Iranian aggression.”
Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain early on April 8, according to multiple news reports. The Interior Ministry urged the public to remain calm, seek shelter and follow official updates. Bahrain’s National Communication Center said the country intercepted six missiles and 31 drones in the 24-hour period ending April 8. Since the start of the regional conflict on Feb. 28, Bahrain has intercepted 194 missiles and 508 drones, the center said.
The security situation in Bahrain has deteriorated sharply since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran has responded with waves of drone and missile attacks targeting U.S. military and diplomatic facilities across the region, including in Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. On March 2, the State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave Bahrain due to the threat of armed conflict. The department has maintained a Level 3 travel advisory for Bahrain, urging Americans to “reconsider travel” due to terrorism and armed conflict.
Commercial flights remain suspended out of Bahrain International Airport, which is closed. The King Fahd Causeway, the only land route linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, has been closed intermittently due to security alerts. U.S. officials have advised Americans in Bahrain to consider overland departure options to Saudi Arabia if they believe it is safe to do so. The State Department has established a 24/7 task force to assist U.S. citizens seeking departure information. Americans can call +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada. Emergency services in Bahrain can be reached by dialing 999.
The embassy has also warned that Iran and its aligned militias may target American universities in Bahrain. Iran has specifically threatened American universities across the Middle East, according to the security alert. U.S. citizens are advised to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive safety updates from the embassy and to avoid filming or photographing military and police installations, as such actions are subject to criminal prosecution under Bahraini law.