Early Monday morning, March 2, 2026, a U.S.-flagged tanker, the Stena Imperative, was struck by two projectiles while docked in the Port of Bahrain, resulting in a fire. The blaze was extinguished, but one Asian worker was killed and two others were seriously injured by debris from an intercepted missile. The crew was safely evacuated, and the vessel remained in port for investigation. This incident was part of a larger retaliatory campaign by Iran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and other locations in the Gulf. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior reported the fire was caused by missile debris intercepted by defense systems. The attack occurred amidst intense military action between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, leading to increased maritime risk in the Persian Gulf, with insurers canceling war risk coverage. Social media showed images of smoke rising from the port area, and satellite imagery from March 1 revealed damage at the U.S. Fifth Fleet base. The Stena Imperative had previously been involved in a tense encounter with Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz in early February 2026. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) urged shipping companies to avoid the Persian Gulf region until conditions improve, warning against misinformation and advising reliance on verified sources. In response to the fragile situation, major shipping companies like Maersk and MSC, followed by three major Japanese lines, suspended traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
