WATCH: Kuwait oil refinery catches fire after renewed Iranian drone attack, operations under threat

An Iranian drone struck a key oil facility at Kuwait’s Mina Ahmadi refinery on Friday, sparking a fire at the site, Kuwait’s state-run Kuwait Oil Co said, adding that no casualties were reported.The company said firefighters were working to control the blaze after the attack, marking another escalation of attacks on critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf region.The Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, one of Kuwait’s three largest refineries, has been targeted several times in the ongoing conflict. Refineries play a vital role in Kuwait’s oil production, as refinery outages can force wells to shut down due to lack of processing capacity. Restarting refinery operations is a time-consuming process, meaning production could still be affected even if the fire is brought under control.The attack comes as Iran continues to launch attacks in the region amid ongoing hostilities with the United States and Israel. Earlier on Friday, Iran targeted multiple locations in the Gulf, with Kuwait and Bahrain both reporting impending attacks and Israel sounding the alarm over missile threats.Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have carried out airstrikes across Iran, including around Tehran and Isfahan, but details of the targets were unclear.Tehran has maintained sustained pressure on regional rivals despite claims from Washington and Tel Aviv that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly reduced.Attacks on energy infrastructure and Iran’s tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global oil flows and pushed prices higher.Brent crude prices rose to around $109, up more than 50% since the conflict escalated in late February.The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass in peacetime, making any disruption a major concern for global markets.The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on a proposal to address security issues in the Strait of Hormuz amid growing concerns about the safe passage of commercial ships.Bahrain’s proposal initially included provisions allowing countries to “use all necessary means” to ensure the safety of waterways. However, permanent members including Russia, China and France have expressed opposition to authorizing the use of force.Emmanuel Macron said a military solution was impractical, warning that such an operation “would take an infinite time and expose anyone passing through the strait to a coastal threat.”Reopening the route “can only be coordinated with Iran,” he added, pointing to diplomatic efforts following a possible ceasefire.The conflict, now in its fifth week, has resulted in mounting casualties in several areas.More than 1,900 people have been reported dead in Iran, and 19 have been confirmed dead in Israel. More deaths were reported in the Gulf countries, the occupied West Bank and among U.S. troops.In Lebanon, Israeli ground operations against Hezbollah have killed more than 1,300 people and displaced more than 1 million, with many more casualties reported among Israeli forces.The attack on a Kuwait refinery highlights the widening scope of the conflict, with energy infrastructure increasingly targeted in the Middle East’s expanding wars.