Iranian drones struck Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery on Friday for the second consecutive day, starting fires across several processing units, Kuwait's state oil company confirmed. The refinery is the largest in Kuwait and processes approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Kuwait's national oil company said it had shut down a number of affected units as a precaution; there were no reported casualties.
The attack was confirmed by Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and U.S. News and World Report, which cited Kuwaiti officials. CNN's live Iran war blog and Fox News affiliates both independently reported the second strike, noting it came as Kuwaitis observed Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps did not immediately claim responsibility for the Friday attack, though it had claimed the Thursday strike.
The Mina al-Ahmadi attack is the latest in a string of Iranian strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure. Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City — the world's largest LNG export facility — sustained extensive damage earlier in the week, wiping out roughly 17 percent of global LNG supply capacity and costing an estimated $20 billion in annual revenue, according to Qatari officials. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also reported drone and missile incidents in recent days.
Energy analysts cited by both CNBC and Al Jazeera said the cumulative damage to Gulf infrastructure, combined with the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has begun to have measurable effects on global supply chains for commodities ranging from oil and liquefied natural gas to fertilizer and petrochemicals. Brent crude traded near $108 per barrel on Friday, down slightly from the week's peak but still more than 40 percent above its level at the start of 2026.
Left-Leaning Emphasis
- CNN and Al Jazeera highlight the cumulative humanitarian and economic toll of repeated strikes on civilian energy infrastructure, with emphasis on the strain placed on Gulf populations and migrant workers.
- Left-leaning outlets note the attacks come during Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday, and stress the symbolic dimension of Iran targeting fellow Muslim-majority states.
Right-Leaning Emphasis
- The Washington Times and Fox News affiliates frame the attacks as evidence of Iran's ongoing defiance and use the incidents to argue for sustained military pressure on Tehran.
- Right-leaning outlets emphasize Kuwait's alliance with the United States and suggest the repeated strikes on a NATO partner-adjacent Gulf state could trigger Article 5-style coalition responses.
Sources
- Al Jazeera Mar 20
- U.S. News & World Report Mar 20
- CNN Mar 20
- Washington Times Mar 20