A petrol refinery in Bahrain was struck by a missile allegedly launched from Iran, triggering a large fire and sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The attack targeted an industrial facility in the Ma’ameer area, home to the kingdom’s largest oil refining infrastructure.
According to Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior, emergency responders swiftly moved to contain the situation after the missile impact caused a fire within one of the refinery facilities. The ministry later announced that the blaze had been brought under control.
A massive cloud of smoke was seen rising above the industrial zone shortly after the strike, while flames were visible from parts of the surrounding area.
Residents reported hearing loud explosions before emergency sirens were activated across nearby districts.
In a statement shared on social media, the ministry confirmed that “one facility in Ma’ameer was targeted,” adding that relevant authorities had been deployed to manage the incident and secure the affected area.
Officials later provided further reassurance that the situation had been stabilised. “The fire broke out in one of the facilities in Ma’ameer, which was targeted by the Iranian aggression, has been brought under control,” the statement read.
Authorities also noted that only limited material damage was recorded and that no casualties were reported. Emergency services remained on standby as investigators assessed the full extent of the damage.
The targeted refinery is operated by the state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), one of the most important energy installations in the Gulf kingdom. The facility plays a critical role in Bahrain’s oil processing and export operations.
Located on the country’s eastern coast, south of the capital city of Manama, the refinery has a maximum production capacity of approximately 267,000 barrels of oil per day. It also maintains storage capacity of up to 14 million barrels.
Ma’ameer itself is a key industrial hub in Bahrain, hosting numerous manufacturing plants that produce materials such as concrete, asphalt and other construction supplies, making the refinery a strategic economic asset.
The reported missile strike comes amid escalating tensions across the Middle East, with Iran accused of launching a series of retaliatory attacks against several Gulf states and military installations in the region.
The escalation reportedly followed joint United States and Israeli military operations that allegedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in strikes over the weekend—an event that has dramatically intensified regional hostilities.
Tehran has since responded with attacks on multiple U.S. bases across the Middle East, raising fears of a broader regional conflict and triggering concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom announced plans to deploy the destroyer HMS Dragon to the region as tensions rise. British authorities also confirmed evacuation efforts for their nationals, with the first flight departing Oman and additional flights scheduled from the United Arab Emirates.
Reports also suggest that Kurdish Iranian militant groups launched a ground offensive inside Iran overnight in what analysts describe as an attempt to weaken the country’s ruling clerical establishment.
The militias are said to have received intelligence support from both Mossad and the Central Intelligence Agency, according to officials quoted by Axios.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was also reported to have declared that Iran was “toast” and that the United States was “winning decisively” in the ongoing military campaign dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
