Event of the Week (Saturday – 18 July 2026): As the Conflict Escalates, “Tyrant Hamad” Reportedly Hides Underground; After Juffair and Sakhir, Mina Salman Port Enters the Danger Zone
Iranian news agencies reported on Friday, 17 July, that Gulf ports—including Mina Salman Port in Bahrain—would be within the Islamic Republic’s line of fire if the U.S. aggression against Iran were to expand, particularly following the reported attack on Iran’s Chabahar Port.
Observers did not rule out the seriousness of the threats published by Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency after the United States allegedly attacked Chabahar Port, located in southeastern Iran. Chabahar is one of Iran’s most significant ports outside the Strait of Hormuz, overlooking the Arabian Sea. It gained major logistical and strategic importance during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), when instability in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted maritime traffic and prevented ships from entering the Gulf, making Chabahar one of Iran’s principal ports.
The article further claims that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth published an alleged image of the attack on the port while the United States continued its military campaign against Iran for a seventh consecutive day. It says Hegseth deliberately shared an image purportedly showing the collapse of a tower at the Iranian port and directed the message to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), headquartered in Bahrain, which the article describes as leading the military operations against Iran.
According to Fars News Agency, several Gulf ports have been placed on Iran’s list of potential targets in response to the reported U.S. attack on Chabahar. The agency asserted that the attack granted the Islamic Republic a legitimate right to target commercial ports hosting U.S. interests in the region, including Mina Salman Port in Bahrain.
Mina Salman is known to include a naval base serving as the headquarters of the Royal Bahraini Navy. It also houses the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy Support Facility (HMS Jufair), while activities related to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Juffair, are also conducted there. The base is considered a vital center for joint military training and exercises in the Gulf.
The article concludes by claiming that, as a result of Bahrain’s alleged involvement in the military campaign against Iran, the Al Khalifa government has turned Bahrain into a primary target for Iranian retaliation, increasing the risks facing the country. It further cites reports alleging that “Tyrant Hamad” has taken refuge in an undisclosed underground bunker.
