Iran Launches Fresh Attack on Oil Installations in Bahrain and Other Gulf States
Iran launched a fresh series of attacks against oil installations in Gulf states on Monday 9 March. One of Iran’s targets was an oil refinery in Bahrain.
The drone strikes targeting energy installations in the Gulf region occurred as oil prices surged, owing to concerns about supply disruptions amid the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel that began in late February.
The sprawling Al Ma’ameer oil facility in Bahrain was reported to have come under attack, causing fires and triggering significant damage. Bahrain’s state-owned energy company, Bapco, declared force majeure as a result of the strikes.
Bahrain became the latest Gulf oil-producing state to invoke the legal clause. Previously, Qatar and Kuwait had issued similar declarations.
“We hereby notify force majeure on group operations that have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and recent attacks against oil refinery complexes,” Bapco stated.
Market instability has intensified as Iran continues to target Gulf states with missile and drone strikes, only hours after the United States ordered its embassy staff to immediately leave Saudi Arabia due to “security risks”.
Last week, drone strikes targeted the US Embassy building in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. The attacks also caused damage to US diplomatic missions in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
On Monday 9 March, Bahrain reported another Iranian drone attack struck Sitra Island, injuring at least 32 people overnight. Bahrain’s Ministry of Health reported that all injured were Bahraini nationals, with four classified as “serious cases”.
The injured included a 17-year-old girl who sustained severe head and eye injuries, and a two-month-old infant.
In Qatar, explosions were heard in the capital Doha on Monday 9 March. Other Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, also reported fresh attacks on their territories. Gulf states have become targets of Iranian retaliation strikes following US and Israeli bombing campaigns that began last week.
A total of 21 people, including 10 civilians and seven US personnel, have been killed in the Gulf region since Iran launched its retaliatory strikes.