Iran Expands Gulf Strikes, Hits Airport Fuel Tanks , Bahrain Desalination Plant

Iran expanded its regional campaign on Sunday, striking key infrastructure across Gulf states, including fuel storage tanks at Kuwait’s international airport and a desalination plant in Bahrain. The attacks left at least four people dead across the region as Tehran’s retaliation entered its second week.

In Saudi Arabia, authorities said a “military projectile” landed in a residential area in Al-Kharj governorate, south of Riyadh, killing two people — an Indian and a Bangladeshi — and injuring 12 others, according to the civil defence.

Kuwait’s interior ministry also confirmed the deaths of two border guards who were killed while “performing their national duty,” though officials did not provide further details on the circumstances.

Since the conflict began following a large-scale air campaign by the United States and Israel against Iran, Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran’s response.

Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, warned that the Islamic Republic would be “forced to respond” against neighbouring countries if their territories were used as launch points for attacks against Iran.

A day earlier, Pezeshkian had apologised to neighbouring states hosting U.S. military bases for strikes carried out on their soil. Gulf governments have repeatedly insisted their territories have not been used to launch attacks against Iran and had earlier said they would not permit such actions.

Despite these assurances, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait all reported fresh attacks on Sunday.

In Kuwait, the military said drones targeted fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport. The official Kuwait News Agency reported that a fire triggered by the strike was quickly brought under control and that there were no significant injuries.

The Kuwaiti military described the incident as a “direct targeting of vital infrastructure,” adding that falling debris from intercepted drones and missiles caused damage to several civilian facilities.

Separately, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced a precautionary reduction in crude oil production as the country’s armed forces responded to multiple drone and missile threats.

Authorities also said Kuwait’s main social security building was targeted, sustaining material damage. The facility was closed to visitors on Sunday.

In Bahrain, the interior ministry reported that an Iranian drone strike damaged a water desalination plant, accusing Tehran of “randomly” targeting civilian infrastructure.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had earlier said it struck the U.S. naval facility at Naval Support Activity Bahrain (Juffair Base), claiming the base had been used to launch attacks on an Iranian desalination plant.

Bahrain’s national communication office later stated that the strike on the desalination facility caused no disruption to water supply or network capacity.

In a separate incident, falling missile debris injured three people and damaged a university building in the Muharraq area, according to Bahraini authorities.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its air defences intercepted 33 drones targeting various locations across the kingdom.

Among them was a drone headed for Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, which was successfully shot down without causing damage or casualties. Officials said 26 drones were directed toward the capital and surrounding areas but were all intercepted.