Kuwaiti Power Plant Hit Amid Escalating Iran War; UAE Data Centres Targeted

Kuwait has reported a direct hit on one of its vital power and desalination plants, as Gulf nations continue to endure a barrage of retaliatory strikes on the 35th day of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The attacks extend beyond traditional infrastructure, with major data centres in the United Arab Emirates also reportedly coming under fire.

Kuwaiti Infrastructure Under Fire

Authorities in Kuwait confirmed that a power and desalination plant was struck before midday local time on Friday. The full extent of the damage remains unclear. This incident follows early morning drone strikes on the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery, which sparked fires in several operational units, though no employees were reported injured.

State news agency KUNA reported that emergency services swiftly responded to the refinery incident, with environmental authorities monitoring air quality amidst denials of a radiation leak. Al Jazeera's Malik Traina highlighted that this marks the third attack on the critical Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, emphasizing its importance for both local consumption and Kuwait's vulnerability due to its close proximity, just 80 kilometres from Iran's coastlines. Earlier on Friday, KUNA warned of "hostile missile and drone attacks" across the country, with sirens and interceptions reported.

Olley News Insight: Kuwait, like much of the Gulf region, is highly reliant on desalinated water for its population. Attacks on these vital facilities pose a significant threat to basic services and regional stability. A previous alleged Iranian attack on a Kuwaiti power and desalination plant on March 30 tragically resulted in the death of an Indian national.

Data Centres and Emirati Targets Hit

The United Arab Emirates defence ministry disclosed that the country is contending with a new wave of alleged Iranian missile and drone attacks. Debris from an intercepted projectile caused a fire at the Habshan gas facility, a major Emirati gas processing complex, leading to a temporary suspension of operations.

The UAE air defences intercepted 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones on Thursday alone, part of hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones Tehran has allegedly launched since the conflict's inception. These attacks have reportedly resulted in two service member deaths and injuries to 191 people of various nationalities in the UAE. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia destroyed a drone, and Bahrain reported multiple missile alarms.

Adding a new dimension to the conflict, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency claimed responsibility for targeting an Oracle data centre in Dubai. This was reportedly in retaliation for an attack that injured former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and killed his wife. However, the Dubai Media Office swiftly dismissed these claims as "fake news." Concurrently, Amazon Web Services confirmed that two of its data centres in the UAE were "directly struck," with a third in Bahrain sustaining damage from a nearby drone strike, leading to localized disruptions.

Escalating Rhetoric and Warnings

The incidents follow heightened warnings from both sides. Iran's army spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari issued a stern warning of impending attacks on regional power plants. He threatened that if the US continues to target Iranian power infrastructure, Tehran would broaden its strikes to include regional energy infrastructure and information and telecommunications companies with American shareholders.

This Iranian threat comes as US President Donald Trump has concurrently warned of intensifying strikes on Iran's infrastructure, signaling a dangerous cycle of escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.

Key Takeaways

  • A Kuwaiti power and desalination plant was hit by an alleged Iranian attack on Friday, following an earlier drone strike on the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery.
  • This marks the third time the critical Mina al-Ahmadi refinery has been targeted, highlighting Kuwait's vulnerability due to its proximity to Iran.
  • The UAE reported battling a new wave of missile and drone attacks, with debris causing a fire at the Habshan gas facility and significant interceptions by air defences.
  • Major data centres were also impacted, with AWS confirming direct hits on two UAE centres and damage to one in Bahrain, while Iran claimed an attack on an Oracle data centre in Dubai (denied by local authorities).
  • Iran's army spokesperson warned of targeting regional energy and telecom infrastructure if US attacks on Iranian power plants persist, while US President Trump also vowed intensifying strikes on Iran.