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Iran drones strike Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries — fires at both; no casualties
·Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, Al-Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed drone attacks on two state-owned refineries. A drone hit an operational unit at Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery (~50km south of Kuwait City), sparking a fire. A second drone struck Mina Abdullah refinery in southern Kuwait, also igniting a fire. No casualties reported at either site. Kuwait becomes the fourth Gulf state with struck energy infrastructure.
Drone attacks targeted Kuwait's state-owned oil refineries on the night of March 18-19, with the primary strike confirmed at Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery in Al-Ahmadi governorate, south of Kuwait City. A fire broke out at the facility. NYT reported fires at two state-owned Kuwaiti refineries in the same attack wave.
Mina Al-Ahmadi is one of the largest refineries in West Asia, with a production capacity of approximately 730,000 barrels per day. It is operated by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). The refinery is located approximately 45km south of Kuwait City on the Gulf coast.
The strike is part of Iran's IRGC Gulf energy campaign announced on Day 19, in which Iran named five Gulf energy targets. Kuwait had not previously been struck in the current war, though Kuwait airport radar was damaged on Day 16. The Hezbollah sleeper cell arrested in Kuwait on March 18 was allegedly planning similar infrastructure attacks.
The strikes drove Brent crude up nearly 10 percent to $118 a barrel. European natural gas prices were already surging after the attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan.
KuwaitMina Al-AhmadirefinerydroneKNPCGulf energyIRGC
Actor responses
Iranian drone attack on Kuwait energy infrastructure — executing IRGC's announced Gulf energy campaign. Kuwait becomes the fourth Gulf state struck in the energy war.
IRGC drone campaign expanded to Kuwaiti refineries. Mina Al-Ahmadi struck — one of West Asia's largest refinery facilities.
Sources