US air defence system malfunctions, hits civilian area in Bahrain instead of downing Iran missile?

As Iran intensifies missile strikes across the Gulf, serious questions are emerging over the effectiveness of the U.S.-supplied Patriot air defence system after reported failures in Bahrain and the UAE. Strikes on Riffa Air Base allegedly damaged key Patriot components, while similar interception failures were reported during attacks on Fujairah’s oil facilities. Videos and defence reports suggest declining reliability, with operators now firing more interceptors per target to improve success rates. Longstanding concerns—seen in conflicts from Iraq to Ukraine—are resurfacing, raising doubts about the system’s real-world performance as Washington continues to promote it globally.