Drone Attack on Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery; Fire Sparks Panic

DUBAI: Drone attacks caused a fire at Kuwait’s largest oil refinery on Friday with the facility targeted for a second day in a row.

Iran has stepped up attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure in recent days, hitting refineries and the world’s biggest gas hub in Qatar, as Tehran retaliated over Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.

Firefighters were tackling the blaze in one of the units at Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery on , Kuwait’s state News Agency reported.

Kuwait’s state oil company KPC said: ”Mina Al Ahmadi Refinery was targeted by drone attacks early today, causing a fire in several units and prompting the precautionary shutdown of parts of the facility.

“No injuries have been reported, and emergency teams are actively working to contain the situation in line with established safety standards.”

The refinery, which can process some 730,000 barrels of oil per day, was already damaged Thursday in another Iranian attack. It is one of three oil refineries in Kuwait, AP reported.

A Kuwait army statement earlier said air defenses were “responding to hostile missile and drone threats.”

Other Gulf states said they had come under attack on Friday.

Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted dozens of drones and the UAE said it was also contending with missile fire and drone threats.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said shrapnel from what it described as “Iranian aggression” sparked a fire at a warehouse.

The attacks have led to a spike in oil and gas prices and led to fears of lasting damage to global supplies.