Revolutionary Guards Claim Strikes on Gulf Aluminum Plants
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes on two major aluminum producers in the Gulf — Emirates Global Aluminium (EMAL) in Abu Dhabi and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) — framing the attacks as retaliation for earlier strikes on Iranian steel facilities.
The IRGC alleged, without elaboration, that both companies had ties to U.S. military and aeronautics firms. EGA’s Al Taweelah site sustained significant damage, with six people injured by debris from intercepted missiles. Alba reported two employees with mild injuries and said it was still assessing the extent of the damage.
The strikes are part of a broader Iranian escalation. Tehran also targeted Israel, Kuwait International Airport — where a radar was damaged — and other Gulf sites. Iran’s Foreign Minister had previously warned of a “heavy price” following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian industries, including a major steel plant and the Bushehr nuclear plant.
For Bahrain’s aluminum sector, the timing compounds an already fragile situation: Alba had already shut down 19% of its smelting capacity in early March due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain Steel’s parent company, Foulath Holding, has now declared force majeure on its operations.
The attacks mark a significant shift — Iran moving from proxy warfare and maritime harassment to direct strikes on Gulf state industrial infrastructure.