Iranian Attacks Escalate as Saudi Arabia Downs Multiple Drones

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed 26 Iranian drones Friday, bringing the escalating campaign against Gulf energy infrastructure to new heights. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported simultaneous drone and missile threats as the assault extended across the region.

The fresh wave of attacks targeted critical energy facilities. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s Mina Al-Ahmadi Port Refinery came under drone assault, sparking fires in several units. Firefighters worked to contain the flames as some units were shut down as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said shrapnel from what it described as Iranian aggression ignited a warehouse fire that was brought under control without casualties.

Saudi defense officials reported that the majority of the 26 drones were shot down over the Eastern Province, home to the kingdom’s major oil refineries, with one intercepted over Al Jouf province in the north.

Friday’s attacks follow a relentless pattern. A day earlier, a drone struck a Saudi oil refinery on the Red Sea, while fires broke out at two additional facilities in Kuwait. Wednesday saw severe damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan, the world’s largest natural gas hub, after Iran retaliated for Israeli airstrikes on its South Pars gas field.

The cumulative toll reveals the sustained scope of Iran’s campaign. Since February 28, when the conflict intensified, Saudi Arabia has been targeted by at least 503 drone strikes. In the same period, Saudi air defenses have intercepted 42 ballistic missiles and seven cruise missiles, underscoring both the variety and relentlessness of the aerial assault.

The repeated attacks on critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf continue to disrupt global oil and natural gas supplies. With each strike causing fires and facility shutdowns, the world’s energy markets face growing pressure from the cascade of escalating attacks on regional production and distribution facilities.

Also Read:

Qatar Blames Iran for LNG Hub Attack as UAE Halts Gas Operations

Iran Under Pressure as Arab and Islamic Ministers Call for Immediate Ceasefire