Iranian Drones Strike Kuwait Oil Facility as Middle East Conflict Escalates

Iranian drone attacks targeted a major Kuwaiti oil refinery early Friday, sparking fires at the facility that processes 730,000 barrels daily. The strikes came amid ongoing regional warfare that has sent global oil prices soaring over 47% since the conflict began.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian drone strikes targeted a major Kuwaiti oil processing facility in the early hours of Friday, igniting fires while warning sirens blared across Israel and explosive sounds echoed through Tehran during Israel’s retaliatory operations coinciding with Iran’s Persian New Year celebrations.

The ongoing conflict, now approaching its third week, continues to destabilize global markets as Iran maintains its assault on regional energy infrastructure. Kuwait reported that drone attacks on its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery caused significant blazes, with emergency teams working to extinguish the flames.

The targeted facility has the capacity to process approximately 730,000 barrels daily and had previously sustained damage from another Iranian strike on Thursday. The refinery represents one of three major oil processing plants in Kuwait, a small but petroleum-wealthy nation situated along the Persian Gulf.

Tehran escalated its targeting of Gulf Arab energy installations following Israel’s Wednesday bombing campaign against Iran’s extensive South Pars natural gas complex located offshore in the Persian Gulf.

Powerful explosions rattled Dubai as defensive systems engaged incoming projectiles above the city, where residents were commemorating Eid al-Fitr, marking the conclusion of Ramadan’s holy fasting period, with mosques broadcasting their morning prayer calls.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported warehouse fires caused by debris from intercepted missiles, while Saudi Arabia announced successfully downing several drones aimed at its petroleum-rich Eastern Province.

These fresh assaults followed an intensive period during which Iran targeted energy facilities throughout the region and fired over a dozen missile barrages toward Israel after the South Pars attack.

The South Pars field, representing Iran’s portion of the globe’s largest natural gas reserve shared with Qatar, sits offshore in the Persian Gulf. Given that approximately 80% of Iran’s electrical generation relies on natural gas, the Israeli strike directly threatened the nation’s power grid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday evening that his country would pause additional strikes on the gas facility following U.S. President Donald Trump’s request, after Iran’s response caused oil prices to surge dramatically.

Iran’s attacks on neighboring Gulf Arab states, combined with its control over shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital passage for one-fifth of global oil and essential goods transport—have heightened fears of a worldwide energy emergency.

Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, which jumped above $119 per barrel during Thursday’s Iranian attacks, traded around $107 Friday morning, representing a more than 47% increase since the February 28 Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran that initiated the current conflict.

Warning sirens activated across Israel early Friday, alerting residents in Jerusalem and northern regions of incoming attacks and forcing people into protective shelters. Initial reports indicated no immediate casualties.

Shortly after Israel announced new military operations against Iran, explosive sounds were audible in Tehran as Iranians observed Nowruz, their traditional New Year celebration. Additional details were not immediately released.

The war has claimed over 1,300 lives in Iran. Israeli military actions against the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization in Lebanon have forced more than 1 million people from their homes, according to Lebanese officials, who report over 1,000 deaths. Israel claims to have eliminated more than 500 Hezbollah fighters.

Iranian missile strikes have killed 15 people within Israel, while four additional fatalities occurred in the occupied West Bank from Iranian projectiles.

At least 13 U.S. service members have lost their lives in the conflict.

The United Arab Emirates announced Friday it had dismantled what officials described as “a terrorist network funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran.”

Authorities detained five individuals on money laundering charges, claiming they were “operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover” while planning activities that could destabilize the nation’s financial system.

The UAE’s state-operated WAM news service published photographs of the five detainees without revealing their identities.