Drone Strike Hits Kuwait Refinery as Iran Marks New Year Amid War

A fresh drone attack from Iran sparked a fire at Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery on Friday, the second such incident this week, while millions in the region marked the New Year with subdued celebrations.

The escalation comes after an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, prompting Tehran to vow retaliation. Meanwhile, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the conflict is ending faster than expected, saying Tehran’s missile capabilities had been severely weakened and hinting at a possible “ground component” to the campaign.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini reaffirmed missile production continuity, stating, “Our missile industry deserves a perfect score… we continue missile production even under wartime conditions,” but he was later killed in an airstrike.

Despite the conflict, Tehran saw subdued Nowruz celebrations, with residents shopping cautiously and avoiding crowded areas. Tasnim news agency reported that sixteen Iranian cargo vessels were sunk in Gulf ports following US-Israeli attacks.

The war’s impact on global energy supplies is growing. Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas facility suffered “extensive damage” in a separate strike, potentially causing $20 billion in annual revenue losses and long-term repair costs. Robert Pape, a political scientist, warned the damage could trigger a historic global economic crisis if escalation continues.

The conflict has already killed thousands, displaced millions, and spread to Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,000 people. International efforts, including by Emmanuel Macron, aim to negotiate a truce and secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once fighting ends.

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