DUBAI: Critical infrastructure across the Gulf came under attack from Iran on Sunday with damage reported at civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran over past weeks in response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.
Iran has targeted energy and other industrial infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations, accusing its neighbors of allowing US forces to carry out attacks from their territory.
The Gulf states have vehemently denied the accusations.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday said Iran had 48 hours left to make a deal on opening the vital Strait of Hormuz or face “hell.”
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them,” the president said, adding: “Glory be to GOD!”
Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi saying Trump’s threat was a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action.”
Echoing Trump’s language, he warned that “the gates of hell will open for you.”
Authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Sunday they were battling fires at a petrochemical plant in Ruwais Industrial City on the UAE’s northwest coast.
“Authorities are responding to multiple fires in Borouge petrochemicals plant, caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defense systems,” the Gulf emirate’s media office said.
“Operations at the facility have been immediately suspended while damage is assessed. No injuries have been reported,” it added after the United Arab Emirates’ defense ministry earlier said it was responding to missile and drone attacks.
Iran’s army earlier said it was targeting “aluminum industries” in the UAE and US military infrastructure in Kuwait, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.
The Islamic republic has repeatedly threatened civilian infrastructure in the Gulf countries as US-Israeli attacks in Iran have also hit targets that are key to the Islamic republic’s economy.
On Saturday, a strike on a petrochemical hub in southwest Iran killed five people on Saturday, according to the deputy governor of Khuzestan province.
In Bahrain on Sunday, the kingdom’s state energy company said an Iranian drone attack sparked a fire at a storage tank that was later extinguished.
“Bapco Energies confirms an incident occurred at one of its storage facilities earlier today resulting in a tank fire, as a result of a hostile Iranian drone attack,” the company said, without specifying the location of the blaze.
“The fire has been fully extinguished, and the situation is under control. Damages are currently being assessed and evaluated. No injuries have been reported,” it added.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported “severe material damage” on Sunday after an Iranian drone attack caused fires at its operating units.
It said in a statement that no injuries were reported, adding that teams were currently working to contain the fires and prevent it from spreading to other facilities.
Earlier, Kuwait’s electricity and water ministry said two Kuwaiti power and water desalination plants were damaged by a drone attack from Iran causing “significant material damage and the shutdown of two electricity generating units.”
Tehran’s escalating threats have also extended to desalination plants on which the desert Gulf countries rely heavily for their water supply.
Israel was also targeted by missiles launched from Iran on Sunday, the Israeli military said on social media.
– with Reuters
