Iran Drones Strike Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery

In the early hours of March 19, Iranian drones struck Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery — one of the largest in West Asia with a production capacity of approximately 730,000 barrels per day. Fires broke out at the facility, operated by Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC). The New York Times confirmed fires at two state-owned Kuwaiti refineries in the same overnight wave. The strike marks the expansion of Iran's Gulf energy campaign into Kuwait — the fourth state targeted after Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE in less than 24 hours. Mina Al-Ahmadi is located on the Gulf coast approximately 45km south of Kuwait City, accessible via short drone flight from IRGC positions in southern Iran's Khuzestan province. Brent crude surged nearly 10 percent to 18/barrel following the overnight wave of attacks on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

Key facts

• •Mina Al-Ahmadi: ~730,000 bbl/day capacity — one of West Asia's largest refineries
• •Fires at two state-owned Kuwait refineries confirmed by NYT; primary strike at Mina Al-Ahmadi
• •Kuwait is the 4th Gulf state struck in Iran's energy campaign — after Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE
• •Short drone range from IRGC positions in Khuzestan (~170km) made Kuwait newly reachable
• •Brent crude hit 18/bbl overnight — +50% above pre-war level — after Kuwait, Saudi, UAE, Qatar hits