Iran claims ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Iraq and Bahrain

What happened

Iran claimed on 2 September that it conducted successful ballistic missile strikes against US military installations, specifically targeting Erbil Air Base in Iraq and the Naval Headquarters of US Naval Forces Central Command (5th Fleet) in Bahrain. According to a report citing satellite imagery shared by EGYOSINT on X, the strikes reportedly achieved impact on both targets. This claim followed an earlier Iranian announcement the same morning of combined missile and drone operations against US facilities in Erbil.

Context and assessment

Erbil Air Base has served as a key US logistics and air operations hub in Iraq since 2014, hosting coalition forces involved in counter-ISIS operations. The 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain represents the senior US naval command for the Persian Gulf and broader Middle East maritime operations. Iran's dual claim against both locations suggests a coordinated campaign targeting major US military infrastructure across two countries. The September 2 strikes appear to continue a pattern of Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Erbil that began earlier that morning, indicating sustained pressure against US positions rather than an isolated incident.

Sources and confidence

Single source (EGYOSINT via X/@ConflictTR) citing satellite imagery. No independent confirmation from US military statements or additional open-source channels provided in available data. Confidence score of 6.0 reflects sole-source reporting and lack of corroborating statements. Would be elevated by US acknowledgment, multiple satellite providers, or third-party verification; lowered if satellite analysis is disputed.

Location

Erbil Air Base located near Erbil city in northern Iraq's Kurdish-controlled region (36.24°N, 43.95°E). Situated approximately 50 km west of the Iraq-Iran border in Arbil Governorate. The airfield sits on the Mesopotamian plain with strategic access to supply routes serving coalition operations throughout Iraq.

Related events nearby

• IRGC claims combined missile and drone strike on U.S. facilities in Erbil, destroying maintenance center, equi2026-09-02 05:24 UTC · Ballistic Missile · Erbil, Arbil Governorate, Iraq

▶ View this event on the live map

Intel Mapper aggregates open-source reports from monitored Telegram and X channels, geolocates them, cross-checks duplicates across sources and assigns a confidence score. Entries are updated as new confirmations arrive. Read how we verify events.