The conflict involving the United States (US) and Israel against Iran has now expanded beyond military facilities, reaching energy and water infrastructure. Oil depots and water desalination facilities have become targets as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.

Compiled by detikcom from reports by Al Jazeera and AFP on Sunday (March 9, 2026), Israeli strikes on oil storage depots and refinery facilities in Iran triggered massive fires in Tehran. Flames were seen rising high into the sky over the Iranian capital.

The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the targets were oil facilities allegedly linked to Iran’s armed forces.

Reports about the attack were also released by Iranian state media. It marked the first reported strike targeting the Islamic Republic’s oil infrastructure.

“We report that an oil depot in southern Tehran has been targeted by the United States and the Zionist regime,” the official IRNA news agency wrote.

The oil depot is located near a major refinery complex. However, the ILNA news agency reported that the refinery facility “did not suffer damage from the military strike.”

Another oil depot in the northwestern area of Tehran was also hit. An AFP journalist witnessed flames and smoke rising from the location.

Five Oil Facility Targets

Reports indicated that five Iranian oil facilities were attacked by the United States and Israel. The strikes resulted in several fatalities.

“Last night, four oil depots and petroleum product transportation centers in Tehran and Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft,” said Keramat Veyskarami, CEO of Iran’s National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, in an interview with Iranian state television, as reported by AFP on Sunday (March 8).

Some damage was recorded at the sites, but the fires were successfully brought under control.

“Four of our personnel, including two oil tanker truck drivers, were killed in the incident,” Veyskarami stated.

He added that the energy infrastructure facilities had suffered damage, although the fires had been contained.

Following the attack, smoke from the fires covered the Iranian capital throughout the night, creating a dark haze across the city by morning. Residents reported that the smell of burning materials still lingered in the air.

Veyskarami also said that Iran’s oil depots still have “sufficient gasoline reserves.”

Attack on Water Desalination Facility

Earlier, the US military also struck a desalination plant on Qeshm Island in Iran. The facility is used to convert seawater into drinking water.

According to Al Jazeera on Saturday (March 7), Abbas Araghchi described the US action as a “blatant and desperate crime.” The attack disrupted water supplies for several villages in Iran.

“The water supply for 30 villages has been disrupted,” Araghchi said.

“Attacking Iran’s infrastructure is a dangerous step with serious consequences. It is the United States that set this precedent, not Iran,” he added.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting a US military base located in Bahrain. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior stated that air raid sirens were activated and residents were advised to remain calm and seek shelter.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior also reported that Iranian drone attacks had damaged a water desalination facility. Several civilians were injured by falling debris from Iranian missiles in Bahrain.

“Iran’s aggression randomly bombed civilian targets and caused material damage to a water desalination plant following a drone attack,” Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement cited by AFP.

The attack was carried out by Iran after Tehran had previously accused the United States of launching a strike on one of its own desalination plants from a base in Bahrain.

On the other hand, Bahrain also reported that three people were injured by falling debris from Iranian missiles. The missile fragments damaged a university building in the Muharraq area of Bahrain.

“As a result of Iran’s blatant aggression, three people were injured and material damage occurred to a university building in the Muharraq area after missile fragments fell,” the ministry said in a statement, referring to the island district northwest of Manama.