According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Friday, September 11, 2026, Iran has welcomed comments from Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledging the extensive damage inflicted on American military facilities in Bahrain during Iranian attacks, with Tehran portraying the remarks as confirmation of the effectiveness of its strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi seized on Cao’s comments in a post on X, saying Iran’s armed forces had inflicted significant damage on the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet and other American facilities in the region.
“We appreciate the candor,” Araghchi said, while arguing that the American public should not have to bear the cost of US military operations in support of Israel. Iranian officials have repeatedly described the US campaign against Iran as an act of aggression and have vowed to continue retaliating against American military positions.
Cao, who is serving as acting secretary of the US Navy, reportedly acknowledged in an interview with The Epoch Times that Iranian attacks had caused extensive damage to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the US military installation that hosts the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet.
Cao was quoted as saying that Iranian forces had “blew the hell out of Bahrain,” in an apparent reference to the scale of the attacks on the American military presence there. The remarks represent a rare high-level acknowledgment from a senior US defence official of the extent of damage suffered by the facility.
Naval Support Activity Bahrain is a strategically important American installation in the Gulf. The Fifth Fleet operates from Bahrain and is responsible for US naval operations across a vast area that includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
The base has become a key target in the wider US-Iran conflict, particularly because Washington has maintained a substantial military presence in the region.
Araghchi’s response indicates that Tehran sees Cao’s comments as an important acknowledgment of the impact of Iran’s military campaign.
Iran has repeatedly targeted US military positions in the region since the conflict escalated, presenting the attacks as retaliation for American strikes against Iranian territory and military infrastructure.
The latest exchange comes after a renewed series of attacks involving American and Iranian forces in and around the Gulf. Reuters reported earlier this month that Iranian forces had launched missile attacks against US Navy vessels, prompting American forces to strike Iranian oil tankers.
The United States has also reported destroying additional Iranian oil carriers as Washington attempts to restrict Tehran’s ability to finance its military operations.
The damage to the Fifth Fleet headquarters is particularly significant because Bahrain serves as a central hub for US naval operations in the Middle East.
The Fifth Fleet plays a major role in protecting shipping routes and supporting American military operations around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The continuing conflict has already disrupted maritime traffic and placed pressure on global energy markets. Reuters reported that vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply amid attacks and restrictions, while oil prices have risen as traders assess the risks to global supplies.
The United States is also facing a broader strategic challenge as Iran continues to threaten American forces and allied infrastructure across the region.
The latest dispute over the Bahrain base comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain limited. Fighting has continued for months, with both Washington and Tehran maintaining hardline positions.
Iran has warned that further American attacks could trigger more severe retaliation, while the Trump administration has continued military and economic pressure on Tehran.
The conflict is also spreading beyond the immediate US-Iran confrontation. Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have recently seized strategic territory around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, including Perim Island and the port city of Mokha, creating another threat to international shipping.
COURTESY: AZNews365
