Iran Attacks Gulf Refineries as US-Israeli War Escalates
Iran launched drone and missile strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure, forcing the closure of the Ruwais refinery and blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian drones and missiles targeted critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf on March 10, 2026, as part of a retaliatory campaign following U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader on February 28. The most significant strike hit the Ruwais refinery in the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East's largest refinery, forcing the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to shut down its sole crude distillation unit. Simultaneous attacks targeted Bapco facilities in Bahrain, the Ras Laffan complex in Qatar, and Saudi Aramco installations in Saudi Arabia, including the Ras Tanura refinery.
Donald Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, initiating major combat operations against Iran. In response to the March 10 attacks, Trump warned that any interference with oil exports would lead to the total destruction of Iran as a nation. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced an intensification of strikes inside Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel is breaking Iran's bones.
The conflict has caused shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to grind to a near halt, impacting roughly 20% to 25% of global oil flows. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser warned that these disruptions could have "catastrophic consequences" for the global economy and oil markets. Regional refining capacity has dropped by approximately 1.9 million barrels per day, with total crude output cuts reaching up to 6.7 million barrels per day. To bypass the closed strait, Aramco has begun rerouting shipments via the East-West pipeline to the Red Sea.
