Bahrain Oil Giant declares force majeure after Iranian strikes
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- Bahrain’s Bapco declares force majeure after Iranian drone strikes hit energy infrastructure.
- Attacks are part of wider escalation between Iran, the US, and 'Israel' in the Gulf region.
Bahrain’s state-owned oil company, Bapco, announced force majeure on Monday following waves of Iranian strikes targeting the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.
In an official statement, Bapco said it “hereby serves notice of force majeure on its group operations which have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex.”
Eyewitnesses reported thick smoke rising from Bapco’s main refinery in Sitra, a key facility in Bahrain’s energy sector. The smoke followed earlier government reports of injuries and property damage caused by an Iranian drone strike in the area.
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Bapco’s refinery is central to Bahrain’s oil production, and the force majeure declaration signals potential disruptions in supply and broader regional energy impacts amid rising tensions between the US, 'Israel', and Iran.
Regional Tensions Escalate
The strikes are part of an intensifying conflict in the Gulf, where Iranian drones and missiles have increasingly targeted critical infrastructure in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere. These attacks follow a series of US and 'Israeli' operations inside Iranian territory, including airstrikes on military and energy facilities.
Read more: Gulf nations face overnight Iranian missile, drone wave
Analysts warn that the conflict threatens energy security in the Gulf, a vital region for global oil supply, and could further destabilize the already volatile region.
The current wave of hostilities stems from escalating US and 'Israeli' operations against Iran, including airstrikes on key military and nuclear facilities. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf countries, particularly energy infrastructure. The confrontation has raised fears of a wider regional war, with Gulf states on high alert and global oil markets closely monitoring developments.
