Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery was struck by Iranian drone attacks on Friday, sparking fires across multiple units, according to reports from Al Jazeera and NBC5. The attack, which targeted a facility processing approximately 730,000 barrels of oil per day, occurred as Kuwait marked Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan.
The strikes are part of a wider Iranian campaign targeting Gulf Arab states, launched in response to an earlier Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield, a critical source of natural gas for the country. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. Forces at the UAE’s al-Dhafra airbase and sites within Israel, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The United Arab Emirates also reported incoming missile and drone threats, while Bahrain stated that shrapnel from what it described as “Iranian aggression” ignited a warehouse fire. Saudi Arabian forces reported intercepting and destroying over a dozen drones within a two-hour period.
The attacks on Gulf states reach as Israel continues to launch air strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran. Iranian media reported sixteen cargo ships anchored in the Gulf had been destroyed.
The situation is raising concerns about a broader energy crisis. According to NBC5, President Trump has urged Japan to increase its policing of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supplies, but Japan has yet to commit. The president stated he does not anticipate deploying U.S. Troops, despite the escalating attacks. Oil prices have already begun to surge, with the average price of a gallon of gas rising by $1 compared to last month, according to AAA.
The White House is considering lifting sanctions on Iranian oil as a potential measure to lower prices.
Alongside the escalating conflict in the Middle East, other global events are unfolding. NASA’s Artemis rocket, following repairs, is being prepared for its first crewed flight to the moon in more than half a century. An international aid convoy has arrived in Cuba, and actor Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86. A cyclone has impacted Australia’s northeastern coast, causing widespread flooding and strong winds.
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