Huge Blaze Erupts After Iranian Attributed Attack on Fuel Tanks in Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain — A massive fire erupted at a fuel storage facility in Bahrain’s Muharraq Governorate after what authorities described as an attack attributed to Iran, prompting emergency responses and raising alarm over the security of regional energy infrastructure.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that the blaze began after fuel tanks at a facility were struck in the early hours of Thursday, March 12, 2026. Civil defense teams were deployed immediately to battle the inferno and secure the surrounding area, which includes sensitive infrastructure close to Bahrain International Airport.

Residents in nearby neighborhoods — including Hidd, Arad, Qalali, and Samaheej — were advised to stay indoors and to close windows and ventilation openings as a precaution against smoke and potential toxins from the fire.

The strike comes amid an ongoing wave of attacks attributed to Iran across Gulf energy and industrial targets, including earlier incidents affecting oil facilities and desalination plants in neighboring countries. Analysts say these strikes reflect escalating tensions that threaten the security of critical infrastructure across the region.

Bahrain’s state energy company previously declared force majeure on oil shipments following an earlier attack that set the nation’s primary refinery ablaze, highlighting the broader impact of conflict related disruptions on regional energy output and global markets.

Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and are coordinating firefighting and safety operations as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause and origins of the attack.