VIDEO Columns of smoke at a well-known five-star hotel in Bahrain. “It was hit with drones”

The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama, Bahrain, was hit by drones on Sunday during a series of retaliatory strikes by Iran in the Persian Gulf over the death of Ali Khamenei, India TV reports.

Crowne Plaza Manama is a large five-star hotel located in Bahrain's diplomatic area, close to important government and financial buildings.

Images from the scene, which have gone viral online, show smoke and fire rising from the hotel area, and Bahraini civil defense teams have responded to the scene.

Initial reports suggest the hotel was struck during wider regional attacks that also hit residential and civilian areas, according to India TV. Bahraini authorities have not yet commented on the strike, and details of casualties or damage remain unclear.

🇮🇷🇧🇭 – IRAN / BAHRAIN

🔴Images attesting to a fire on the Crowne Plaza cinq étoiles de Bahreïn directemente touché par une frappe Iranienne à Manama. https://t.co/mHg0cSQyhh pic.twitter.com/WbQoD6r0ck

— NEXUS (@nexus_osint) March 1, 2026

Iran begins 'most ferocious offensive operation in its history'

The incident comes after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned early Sunday that it would attack US bases and Israel in retaliation for Khamenei's death.

“The most ferocious offensive operation in the history of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will begin on the occupied territories and American terrorist bases in just a few moments,” the IRGC announced.

Sirens started sounding in the morning in Israel and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Doha, as well as Manama, the capital of Bahrain, where loud explosions were heard.

Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989, was killed Saturday in a US-Israeli attack on Iran. The announcement of his death was made by Donald Trump. A few hours after this announcement, the Iranian state media confirmed the death of the supreme leader. His daughter, grandson, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were also killed in the attacks.