Kuwait said on Friday, July 17, that one of its power generation and water desalination plants had been damaged in an Iranian attack, sparking a fire and disrupting a large number of electricity generation units, as the war in the Middle East escalated.

In a statement, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said one of the country's power and water distillation plants "was the target of an attack as part of the Iranian aggression... resulting in a fire, damage, and the impairment of several production units." The ministry said it had activated emergency plans to contain the impact and maintain the stability of the national grid.

Fire Brought Under Control

Kuwait Fire Force teams brought the blaze under control, while the ministry's emergency and technical teams, in coordination with relevant authorities, began assessing the damage, securing the plant, and working to restore the affected electricity generation units to service as quickly as possible. The ministry said teams were continuing round-the-clock efforts to maintain an uninterrupted electricity supply.

Authorities urged residents to ration their electricity consumption during what the ministry called an "exceptional period," asking the public to switch off air conditioners during peak hours to help ensure a stable supply, particularly in the southern provinces, which are facing extreme summer heat alongside the attacks on power infrastructure. The ministry said further updates would be provided as the situation developed.

Part of a Widening Assault

The strike on the plant came after Iran launched multiple air attacks on its Gulf neighbours early on Friday. Iran's military said it had targeted US facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which host American military personnel. Kuwait's air defences intercepted a series of missiles and drones over recent days, including dozens of hostile drones that entered its airspace, with debris from earlier interceptions causing limited damage.

The attacks form part of a sharp escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran centred on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it had launched fresh strikes on US facilities across the Middle East on Friday, including its first direct attack in Syria, after a sixth consecutive night of US strikes on Iranian military facilities. Overnight, the US expanded its campaign against Iran, hitting bridges, electrical equipment, and a port, while Qatar's Defence Ministry said its armed forces had thwarted an Iranian missile attack, with a child injured by falling shrapnel from interception operations.

This was not the first time Kuwait's energy infrastructure had been struck during the conflict. In an earlier incident, an Iranian attack damaged a service building at one of the country's power and water desalination plants, killing an Indian worker and causing significant material losses. Kuwait, along with fellow Gulf states, has repeatedly condemned the Iranian attacks as flagrant violations of its sovereignty and a threat to regional security and stability.