A major drone attack has struck a British-owned oil facility in Erbil, Iraq, producing massive fireballs and thick plumes of smoke, just hours after Iran warned it could target UK military bases.
Footage shared on X shows flames engulfing large sections of the Castrol facility in the capital of the Kurdistan region, with thick black smoke filling the sky.
A company insider told Shafaq News that one of the drones crashed inside the compound, sparking a fire that consumed significant quantities of oil and logistical supplies. Emergency crews were deployed swiftly to contain the blaze.
Erbil Governor Omid Xoshnaw reported that the initial strike occurred at around 7:30 AM, targeting a warehouse storing automotive motor oil.
Three drones hit the depot directly, while a fourth was intercepted mid-air before reaching its target. “The repeated bombardment and the scale of the fire have left nothing inside the depot untouched by flames,” Governor Xoshnaw told Kurdistan24.
The attack follows a statement from Seyed Ali Mousavi, Tehran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, who indicated that Iran is considering strikes on British military facilities.
Iranian Drones Strike British Motor Oil Company In Iraq
Rudaw English posted a video this morning showing plumes of grey smoke billowing into the sky at the facility in the Iraqi city of Erbil. pic.twitter.com/QWlhCphhrw
— James Goddard (@JamesPGoddard90) April 1, 2026
Mousavi warned that any installations associated with U.S. operations could become legitimate targets if tensions continue to escalate. When asked directly about British assets, he confirmed that targeting such bases is under consideration.
He said: “This is a very important matter for our self-defence. The military sections of our system will decide appropriately. It depends on your activities. It depends on the British decision about this matter.”
He added: “Every option should be considered. We are very careful and delicate [as to] how to defend ourselves.”
The incident underscores the growing volatility in the region and highlights the potential risks to Western commercial and military assets amid ongoing tensions between Iran, the UK, and its allies.
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