An Iranian aerial attack struck a power generation and water desalination facility in Kuwait on Friday, causing a fire and damaging several electricity production units. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed the strike and activated emergency protocols to maintain the stability of the national grid. Firefighting crews extinguished the blaze, and technical teams began assessing the damage and working to restore affected units. The ministry called on residents to reduce electricity and water consumption during what it described as an “exceptional period.”

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security. Iran’s state television, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the drones and missiles were aimed at “deployment sites of US forces” and logistical support centres in Kuwait, characterising the operation as retaliation for US strikes on Iranian territory. The IRGC also claimed attacks on US military facilities in Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. Bahrain’s military reported intercepting and destroying several aerial threats, while Qatar’s interior ministry said a child was injured by shrapnel from an intercepted missile.

The strike on the desalination plant highlights the acute vulnerability of Gulf water infrastructure. According to data cited by regional analysts, roughly 90 per cent of Kuwait’s drinking water is produced by desalination, with similar dependence in Oman and Saudi Arabia. A prolonged disruption could leave major cities without potable water within days, a scenario that security experts in the Gulf have warned about for years. The incident also underscores the broader risk to hundreds of desalination facilities along the Persian Gulf coast, now within range of Iranian missiles and drones.

The attack is the latest in a series of exchanges since the US-led Operation Epic Fury began on 28 February. A fragile ceasefire brokered by a 14-point memorandum of understanding on 12 June has largely collapsed. Kuwait has previously summoned Iranian diplomats, expelled two members of Iran’s mission, and intensified a crackdown on alleged networks linked to Tehran and Hezbollah. A drone strike on Kuwait International Airport on 2 June killed one person and wounded more than 60. Iran has accused the United States of striking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island in March, a claim Washington has not acknowledged.

The US Central Command stated late Thursday that it had completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian coastal surveillance, air defence, and logistics targets. With no active diplomatic track, Gulf capitals are focused on damage assessment and air defence coordination. Kuwait’s electricity ministry said restoration work is ongoing and further updates will be issued through official channels.