Americans stranded in Bahrain as US-Iran conflict enters second week

As the conflict between the United States and Iran entered its second week, flight cancellations and airport closures gripped Middle Eastern airspace and many Americans abroad scrambled to find their way home.

Yahir, the stranded American citizen who was in Bahrain when the conflict broke out, told Fox News Digital that he had a close call over the weekend when an alleged Iranian drone crashed into the lower floors of a high-rise building where he was staying. The building was a luxury residential tower that reportedly housed many American tourists and US Navy personnel serving in the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet near the capital Manama.

Yahir, from Los Angeles, said that despite witnessing and experiencing firsthand the horrific scenes of the conflict, he was still waiting for help to return home, claiming that local U.S. embassies and State Department officials had led him through a maze of logistical hurdles whose next steps were unclear.

“Two days ago, my building was hit,” Yahir said, referring to Fontana Infinity in Manama. “I was in the building at the time and of course the whole building shook. It was like an earthquake.”

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“It was a shock, but it made sense because everyone was American except for a few Russians living here and there, but Fontana was full of American Navy,” he added.

Yahir added that he witnessed horrific scenes of Iranian drones and missiles hitting not only military targets but also civilian areas, causing powerful explosions and sending huge clouds of smoke into the air.

Describing the moment when a building was hit, Yahir said, “We saw the UAV hit it before our eyes.” “I remember everyone around us was crying. They were evacuating entire buildings. People were crying. It was a really devastating feeling.”

It was reported that an Iranian jet flew over Bahrain at night, at a time when regional tensions were increasing. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

The impacts have reportedly become a daily occurrence; Some explosions feel like an earthquake that will violently shake nearby areas.

“The interceptors were shooting down the missile and the ground was shaking. You’re going to feel it every day at this point,” he said. “It literally happened every day.”

The chaos in the area has reportedly led to residents receiving multiple daily alerts on their phones about incoming missiles. Saying that every warning forced civilians to take shelter immediately, Yahir recalled a moment when he had to take shelter in the basement of The Avenues, a famous shopping mall, for more than an hour.

“At this point, I think I’m even taking it when I’m sleeping and it’s waking me up,” she said. “I feel like we get these alerts more than ten times a day.”

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A huge hole can be seen in the high-rise building in Bahrain where Yahir was staying after a strike in Manama. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Ongoing missile attacks have profoundly affected daily life in Bahrain, turning once vibrant areas into virtual “ghost towns”.

Yahir said his friends stopped going to work, and stores were either closing completely or closing much earlier than usual.

He added that the increased security presence was felt across the country, with police stationed on almost every corner and large military vehicles patrolling the streets daily.

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A high-rise building in Bahrain appears to be in flames in Manama after it was hit amid regional conflict. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Yahir also expressed deep disappointment with the local U.S. Embassy, ​​saying there was little government assistance and describing the overall experience as “horrible.”

According to Yahir, calls to the embassy when asked about evacuation flights would often trigger an automated message stating that citizens should not expect help from the U.S. government and that embassies could not assist with anything.

“I think they should focus on embassies around the world because I think they are useless to Americans. They don’t help us at all,” Yahir said. “I just want to go home.”

He received little update on evacuation plans despite submitting a crisis intake form shared by the State Department. He said the delays and lack of clear communication left him feeling stranded and anxious, with no concrete plan to return home.

Flames and smoke rise from a high-rise building in Manama following an apparent drone strike. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

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More than 40,000 American citizens have returned safely to the United States from the Middle East since Feb. 28, the State Department told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. U.S. officials have directly assisted more than 27,000 Americans abroad by providing travel assistance and other safety guidance, a spokesman said.

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, the State Department completed more than two dozen charter flights and safely evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East,” the department said. “The State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen who wishes to leave the Middle East to do so.”

American citizens stranded in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel are asked to fill out the Crisis Entry Form on the State Department website or call +1-202-501-4444.