Iran attacks Gulf oil facilities; UAE, Qatar, Kuwait shut some plants amid escalating tensions
Dubai : Escalating tensions in West Asia intensified on Saturday as Iran continued targeting oil and infrastructure facilities in several Gulf countries using drones and missiles. The attacks have triggered widespread security concerns and forced some oil production units in the region to temporarily shut down.
According to international media reports, several Gulf nations including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain have halted operations at a few oil facilities as a precautionary measure following the strikes. Experts warn that the disruption could worsen the global oil supply situation in the coming days.
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In the UAE, oil production facilities located in Fujairah were temporarily suspended after drone threats were reported. Similar precautionary shutdowns have also been implemented at selected oil installations in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
Local authorities said the decision was taken due to the continuing drone and missile attacks launched by Iran over the past two days. Officials stressed that the temporary closures were aimed at ensuring the safety of workers and preventing potential damage to critical infrastructure.
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The attacks reportedly followed statements made by Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who had earlier called for continued strikes on countries hosting United States military bases in the region.
Meanwhile, tensions further escalated after a drone strike targeted the United States embassy building in Dubai on Friday and Saturday. Media reports said the building sustained structural damage, though no casualties were reported.
In response to the growing threat, Donald Trump warned that the United States military was prepared to provide naval escorts to ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz if necessary. He also cautioned that additional military action against Iran could be carried out in the coming days.
Trump further claimed in a social media post that Iran’s missile and drone capabilities had been severely weakened and that several of its top leaders had been eliminated during recent operations.
Regional defence forces have also intercepted several incoming drones. Saudi Arabia’s air defence system reportedly shot down around 50 drones launched by Iran.
In Oman, two drones struck an industrial area in Sohar, killing two foreign nationals, according to the Oman News Agency.
Warning sirens were heard in Bahrain during the attacks, while thick smoke was reported rising from an industrial area in Dubai after missile debris reportedly fell and triggered a fire. Authorities also confirmed that a building inside the Dubai International Financial Centre sustained damage after being hit by falling missile fragments.
The current escalation follows a joint military strike by Israel and the United States on February 28 that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks, pushing the West Asian region into a deeper conflict that is now threatening global energy supplies.
