Iran attacks fuel storage facility in Bahrain’s Muharraq

MANAMA — Bahrain came under fresh Iranian aggression early Thursday as missiles or drones struck fuel storage tanks at a facility in the Muharraq Governorate, igniting a massive blaze and prompting authorities to order nearby residents to remain indoors.

The Bahraini Ministry of Interior directly accused Tehran of the “blatant Iranian aggression” that targeted the fuel tanks, confirming the strike as part of a widening campaign against Gulf energy infrastructure. Civil defence teams were immediately deployed to battle the intense fire, with thick plumes of smoke rising over the area.

In an official advisory, the ministry instructed residents in three districts of Muharraq to “remain in their homes, close windows and ventilation openings as precaution against potential effects of smokes from the fire currently being fought.”

Muharraq Island, which houses Bahrain International Airport and key oil-related infrastructure, lies just north of the capital Manama. No immediate reports of casualties from this specific strike have been released, though emergency services remain on high alert.

The attack comes amid Iran’s intensified barrage of missiles and drones across the Gulf in retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28. Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been repeatedly targeted. Authorities say the kingdom’s air defences have already intercepted dozens of incoming threats in recent days, including more than 100 missiles and 160 drones since the escalation began.

The incident forms part of a broader Iranian strategy to disrupt global energy markets. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel on Thursday as attacks hit fuel facilities and tanker routes from Bahrain to Iraq and Oman. Brent crude climbed more than 38 percent since the conflict intensified, triggering concerns over supply shocks not seen since the 1970s.

Bahraini officials have described the strikes as unprovoked attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Muharraq facility fire comes just one day after Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed in neighbouring Dubai reassured business leaders that the UAE — also hit by Iranian projectiles — would “emerge stronger.”

Regional partners have expressed solidarity. The United Nations Security Council has adopted resolutions condemning Iran’s actions, while Gulf Cooperation Council members continue coordinated defence efforts. Bahrain’s National Communication Centre released footage showing firefighters tackling the blaze, with security forces securing the perimeter.

Iran’s latest strike on Muharraq adds to a growing list of energy targets hit since late February, but Bahraini officials and their allies remain united in their determination to protect infrastructure and maintain economic continuity in the face of aggression.