Drone hits oil site in northern Iraq
Fire engulfs Castrol storage facility
A drone strike hit British motor oil company Castrol oil storage facilities operated by the Sardar Group along the Erbil–Mosul road in northern Iraq, igniting a large fire and prompting civil defense teams to battle extensive flames at the site, local media reported. Officials said the blaze engulfed large quantities of oil and logistical materials; no staff injuries were reported. Security forces were deployed to secure the area and investigations were launched, though no group has claimed responsibility.
The strike occurred amid heightened regional tensions marked by increased drone and missile activity since a joint U.S.-Israel offensive on Iran in late February. Tehran’s ambassador to the U.K. recently warned Iran was considering strikes on British military bases, remarks that followed attacks across the Persian Gulf on infrastructure and military-linked targets. The incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of foreign-operated energy projects in northern Iraq and the wider risk to critical infrastructure.
Local authorities condemned the attack, pledged stronger protections for key facilities, and warned of potential economic and energy-security consequences. The British company has not yet detailed the damage; firefighting and assessment efforts continue.
