SHAH ALAM - When fear spread across the city following explosions and emergency sirens, Malaysian expatriate Suriyani Ibrahim chose to do what she could to help, opening the doors of her home to fellow Malaysians in need of a safe place.
Living in Zallaq with her husband, two daughters and brother, Suriyani said the tense situation began late Saturday when news broke that Israel had launched attacks on Iran, sparking fears of a wider regional conflict.
“On Saturday we were just reading the news that Israel had attacked Iran. Suddenly an alarm siren appeared on our mobile phones, warning that something was happening,” she told Sinar Daily.
Shortly after the alert, Suriyani’s husband began receiving calls from friends living closer to the affected areas.
“My husband’s friends called, saying they heard bomb explosions and their house was shaking. My friends in the group chat said the United States base area in Juffair had been attacked and they could see smoke and feel the impact,” she said.
Although Suriyani’s home is located some distance away from the town centre, the frightening messages from friends prompted her to immediately offer help.
“I told all of them that if they felt unsafe, they could come and stay at my house,” she said.
Within hours, six Malaysian families arrived at Suriyani’s home seeking temporary shelter.
“My family welcomed them. My two daughters and my brother were also there. At a time like this, all of us need to stay together to face the situation,” she said.
Despite finding temporary refuge, Suriyani said the first night was filled with anxiety.
At midnight, several families noticed drones flying across the night sky through the window of Suriyani’s daughter’s room.
“From our house we could hear the sound of drones. I couldn’t see the explosion because we are quite far from the area, but the sound was clear,” she said.
According to Suriyani, Bahrain’s defence forces managed to intercept several threats.
“Still, the alarm sirens kept going on and off throughout the night. Everyone was frightened and none of us could sleep peacefully.
"I stayed awake the whole night monitoring the situation. From my house I could see drones being intercepted by the defence forces,” she added.
Turning strangers into family
As the night of fear passed, the following days brought a sense of togetherness.
Suriyani said the families, who stayed at her home from Saturday until Tuesday, began sharing daily routines like cooking, eating and spending time together.
“When I woke up the next morning and saw everyone at home, I felt happy. The situation made us closer, like a family.
“We cooked together and ate together for iftar and sahur. It reminded me of when families return to their hometown and gather as one big family," she said.
Children from the families also spent time together while schools were temporarily closed due to security concerns.
“They were supposed to sit for their term two exam last Sunday but everything has been postponed. Schools are closed and most likely online learning will start soon,” she said.
Among those who sought shelter was Wan Zalina Wan Zakwan, 43, who lives in Hidd in the Muharraq Governorate, about five kilometres from Juffair, Manama – the location of the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters.
Wan Zalina said her family stayed with Suriyani for three nights after leaving their home due to safety concerns.
“We are very thankful to Suriyani for letting us stay with her. It meant a lot to us during those difficult days,” she said.
The families remained at Suriyani’s home from Saturday until Tuesday before returning to their respective homes on March 3.
She said that despite the fear and uncertainty, the experience strengthened the bonds among the Malaysian community there.
“We united together during this difficult situation. Even with the current situation, my family will always welcome them anytime if they need shelter or help,” she said.
Although the situation remains tense, Suriyani said authorities have managed to keep the situation under control.
“We still receive alarm sirens and hear drones and missiles sometimes, but so far the situation is under control,” she said.
She added that the Malaysian embassy has been actively updating citizens in the country about the latest developments.
“For now, we are just praying for our safety,” she said.
The United States (US) and Israel launched a large‑scale joint military operation against Iran on Saturday, resulting in unprecedented violence across the Middle East and retaliation by Tehran that reverberated throughout the region and beyond.
The operation began early on Feb 28 with coordinated air and missile strikes targeting key military, defence and intelligence infrastructure in Tehran and other major cities including Isfahan, Qom, Kermanshah and Tabriz.
Explosions were reported across multiple provinces, with Iran’s air defence systems and ballistic missile arrays among the primary targets.
Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial assault, along with several senior military and security officials, including Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Pakpour.