Thick smoke rises near Bahrain’s Bapco refinery after suspected Iranian drone strike in Sitra. The attack adds to growing fears of wider Gulf energy disruptions.
Authorities earlier said the Sitra area suffered damage and injuries following what was described as an Iranian drone attack. (Screengrab)
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: A suspected Iranian drone strike near Bahrain’s key energy infrastructure triggered alarm across the Gulf on Monday after thick smoke was seen rising near the country’s main oil refinery in the Sitra area. The incident comes as the ongoing regional conflict continues to spread beyond traditional battlefields and into critical economic infrastructure.
Videos circulating online showed large plumes of dark smoke rising into the sky near the Bapco refinery, Bahrain’s largest oil processing facility. Witnesses reported that the smoke spread across the surrounding industrial area shortly after authorities confirmed damage and injuries from a drone strike in the nearby Sitra district.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the refinery itself was directly hit. However, the facility is located close to the reported impact zone, raising concerns about the safety of one of the Gulf region’s most important energy assets.
Authorities earlier said the Sitra area suffered damage and injuries following what was described as an Iranian drone attack. The industrial district hosts several critical facilities, including oil processing units and storage infrastructure.
A witness said smoke surrounded the refinery complex after the Bahraini government reported that the Sitra area had been hit by an Iranian drone attack, which caused injuries and damage.
Bahrain’s BAPCO oil company reportedly comes under attack. pic.twitter.com/ehJS6Fi7BM
— Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) March 9, 2026
Emergency services and security teams were deployed to the area while authorities worked to assess the full extent of the damage. Initial reports indicated that several nearby structures were affected during the strike.
Security around major industrial zones and energy facilities in Bahrain has also been tightened following the incident.
The Bapco refinery, operated by Bahrain Petroleum Company, is the country’s main oil processing hub and a critical part of its economy. The facility handles crude oil for domestic consumption as well as exports to global markets.
Energy analysts say any disruption at the refinery could have broader consequences for regional energy supply chains. The refinery processes hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day and plays a key role in Bahrain’s petroleum industry.
Because of its strategic importance, the site is considered one of the most sensitive pieces of infrastructure in the Gulf region.
The incident highlights how the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel is increasingly targeting economic and energy assets across the Middle East.
The war began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched large-scale airstrikes on Iranian military and government targets. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran across the region.
Since then, Iranian forces have targeted military bases and infrastructure across several Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. In response, the United States and Israel have continued strikes on Iranian military facilities.
Attacks on oil facilities and shipping routes have already started to disrupt energy flows across the Middle East. The region supplies a large share of the world’s crude oil, making any conflict there highly sensitive for global markets.
Recent strikes on refineries, pipelines, and energy facilities have pushed oil prices sharply higher and raised concerns about possible supply shortages.
Experts warn that continued attacks on critical energy infrastructure could deepen the global energy crisis and increase volatility in international oil markets.
For now, authorities in Bahrain continue to investigate the incident near the Bapco refinery while maintaining heightened security around the country’s key industrial and energy facilities.
