Iranian drones strike Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery again, sparking fires

11:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Iranian drones strike Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery again, sparking fires

Iranian drones struck the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery in Kuwait on Friday morning, igniting fires across multiple operational units in the latest attack on Gulf energy infrastructure since the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran began in late February.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation told the official KUNA news agency that the 346,000-barrel-per-day facility was targeted by drones in the early hours of the morning, causing fires in several units. Emergency and firefighting teams activated response plans and were working to bring the blazes under control, the company said. No injuries were reported, and precautionary measures were taken to protect workers and surrounding facilities.

KPC said it was coordinating with the Public Authority for the Environment to monitor air quality in areas near the refinery, with no negative environmental impact recorded so far. Kuwait operates three oil refineries, and the Mina al-Ahmadi complex — one of the country's largest — has been struck multiple times since Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Gulf states on February 28.

Friday's strike is part of a broader Iranian campaign targeting energy installations across the Gulf. Iran began its retaliatory operations after the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iranian military facilities, nuclear sites, and senior leaders under Operation Epic Fury, which killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iranian drones and missiles have struck targets in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Mina al-Ahmadi refinery was previously struck on March 19 and 20, forcing the precautionary shutdown of several units. Fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport were hit by an Iranian drone on March 31, causing a major fire. A Kuwaiti oil tanker was also attacked the same day.

The repeated strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure have compounded a deepening oil supply crisis. Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply normally flows — in the early days of the conflict. Oil prices have climbed above $100 per barrel, and analysts warn that the disruption could worsen by mid-April as strategic petroleum reserves are drawn down. A Kuwait Petroleum Corporation official recently said it could take three to six months to restore full production once the conflict ends.