Common Questions

Where is Sitra in Bahrain?: Sitra is an island immediately south of Manama, Bahrain's capital, connected by causeway. It hosts Bahrain's principal oil refinery, operated by Bapco, as well as petrochemical plants and a commercial port.
Was Bahrain attacked by Iran during the ceasefire?: Yes. Iranian drone shrapnel struck Sitra island on 8 April 2026, Ceasefire Day 1, damaging the Bapco refinery and injuring two Bahraini citizens. Iran also struck Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar on the same day.Source: Lowdown update 63
What does the Sitra refinery in Bahrain produce?: The Bapco refinery on Sitra island processes approximately 267,000 barrels of oil per day and is the centrepiece of Bahrain's downstream petroleum sector.Source: Bapco

Background

Sitra island, home to Bahrain's principal oil refinery operated by Bapco (Bahrain Petroleum Company), sustained damage from Iranian drone shrapnel on 8 April 2026 during Iran's simultaneous strike on five Gulf States on Ceasefire Day 1. Two Bahraini citizens were injured. The Sitra refinery, which processes approximately 267,000 Barrels Per Day, is the economic centrepiece of Bahrain's downstream oil sector and the island's primary industrial installation.

Sitra sits immediately south of the Bahraini capital Manama, connected to the main island by a causeway. Beyond the refinery, it hosts petrochemical plants, a commercial port, and residential areas. Its compact geography means industrial and civilian infrastructure are in close proximity, a fact that made the drone strike particularly alarming to Bahraini authorities even before damage assessments were complete.

Bahrain hosts the US Fifth Fleet at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, making it one of the most militarily significant Gulf States in terms of American forward presence. Iran's willingness to strike Sitra on Ceasefire Day 1 was interpreted by analysts as a signal that the Ceasefire framework did not insulate Gulf States hosting US forces from IRGC action. The attack reinforced Bahrain's support for a robust US military posture in the Gulf and hardened Manama's opposition to any Ceasefire terms that did not include explicit Gulf security guarantees.

How the World Sees Them

Iran

Iran did not formally acknowledge the Sitra strike on ceasefire Day 1, adding to confusion about whether the attacks were authorised IRGC operations or independent action.

Bahrain

Manama condemned the strike as an act of aggression against civilian infrastructure and called an emergency GCC session. The government reinforced its alignment with US Gulf security guarantees.

United States

The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, placed forces on heightened alert following the Sitra strike and issued a statement supporting Bahrain's right to self-defence.