Iran hits Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE after refinery attack

Dubai: The announcement of ceasefire on Wednesday brought no immediate halt to strikes and counterstrikes. An oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island was hit in what Iranian authorities described as an “enemy attack”, hours after a two-week truce between Iran and the US took effect. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company reported the incident, as per the Iranian Oil Ministry. Iranian state television said firefighters were working to contain the blaze but no one had been hurt.

On the other side, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued warnings about missiles from Iran. That attacks stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

The UAE said that its air defences “are actively engaging” incoming missiles and drones from Iran. Operations at Abu Dhabi’s Habshan gas complex were also temporarily suspended after a fire broke out early on Wednes­day due to falling debris, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Kuwait also ⁠said its ⁠air defences were ⁠intercepting a wave of Iranian drones ‌launched since 8am, according to its army. The ⁠Kuwaiti army said ⁠some drones targeted vital ⁠oil facilities, ⁠power stations ⁠and water desalination plants, causing serious infrastructure damage.

Bahrain’s ministry of interior also reported alleged Iranian attacks, which injured two people. Explosions were heard in capital Manama in the morning, AFP reported.

Iranian state TV confirmed the missile and drone attacks, saying they were carried out in response to the bombing of its oil facilities. —Agencies