Power and water plant set ablaze as Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait

Kuwait has accused Iran of launching another attack on one of its power and water facilities, saying the latest strike triggered a fire and damaged electricity generation infrastructure as hostilities between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, July 19,  Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said the attack caused a fire at a power and water distillation plant for the second time in two days.

“As a result of the heinous Iranian aggression on Kuwait, a power and water distillation plant, for the second time in two days, has been subjected to an attack that caused a fire in some facilities of the station,” the ministry said. It added that several power generation units were affected, prompting the activation of emergency response protocols, while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

The latest incident marks the third reported attack on Kuwait’s power and water infrastructure in as many days. Authorities also confirmed that an oil facility was struck on Saturday, July 18. Kuwait has urged residents to reduce electricity consumption as repeated attacks place additional pressure on the country’s power network.

Earlier on Sunday, the militaries of Kuwait and Bahrain said they were responding to Iranian aerial attacks, with air raid sirens sounding across both Gulf states. AFP journalists reported hearing warning sirens in Kuwait City and Bahrain’s capital, Manama, while explosions were also heard in northern Bahrain.

Bahrain, which hosts the United States Fifth Fleet, accused Iran of targeting civilian sites during the latest wave of attacks. Iran’s military said it had launched drone strikes against two US military bases in Kuwait in retaliation for recent American attacks on Iranian territory.

According to a statement carried by Iranian state media, Tehran targeted the US military’s ammunition depot at Camp Udairi as well as Patriot radar and air surveillance systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base using what it described as large-scale kamikaze drone attacks. Kuwait and Bahrain, both home to major US military installations, have become key targets in the renewed conflict between Iran and the United States following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement earlier this month.

The latest escalation comes after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that two American service members were killed on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, with another soldier reported missing.