March 5, 2026 — SUNTV Global Channel
A major fire broke out at Bahrain’s largest oil refinery after it was struck by an Iranian missile late Thursday night, in what officials say is a serious escalation in the rapidly expanding conflict across the Middle East.
Authorities in Bahrain confirmed that the missile hit a government-owned refinery, igniting a large blaze that emergency crews later managed to bring under control. Despite the dramatic impact, officials said refinery operations continued without interruption and no casualties were reported.
The strike highlights growing concerns about the vulnerability of critical oil infrastructure across the Gulf region as tensions intensify between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The refinery attack came during a fresh wave of Iranian military actions across the region. Tehran reportedly launched new missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory, U.S. military bases, and other strategic locations as the war entered its sixth consecutive day.
The conflict deepened further after the United States announced it had sunk the Iranian naval frigate IRIS Dena earlier this week in waters off Sri Lanka. According to U.S. officials, the vessel was returning from a naval exercise in India when it was struck by an American submarine, leaving at least 87 sailors dead.
Iran strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “serious violation of international law.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing what he described as an “atrocity at sea,” warning that Washington would “bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
Meanwhile, the fighting has widened beyond direct U.S.–Iran confrontations. The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for residents in parts of Beirut as clashes intensified with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. United Nations peacekeepers also reported ongoing ground combat in the area as additional Israeli forces crossed the border.
The conflict is now believed to involve or affect at least 14 countries across the region and beyond. Azerbaijan has accused Iran of launching drone strikes into its territory, an allegation Tehran has denied.
In another development, Iranian officials rejected claims that they had shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route for oil exports.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations described the accusations as “baseless and absurd,” insisting the country remains committed to international law and freedom of navigation while blaming the United States for destabilizing maritime security.
With attacks now extending to critical energy facilities such as Bahrain’s refinery, analysts warn that the conflict is entering a more dangerous phase that could threaten oil supplies and regional stability across the Gulf.
Reporting by SUNTV Global Channel.
