Kuwait oil refinery attacked, multiple facilities set on fire

In the early hours of April 3, the Al Ahmad port refinery in Kuwait was again hit by a drone attack, causing fires in multiple operational units. This incident is the latest example of the ongoing spillover of Middle Eastern conflicts to energy infrastructure in the Gulf region, with renewed concerns about regional supply security.

According to CCTV News, local time April 3, CCTV reporters learned from Kuwait National Petroleum Company that its subsidiary, the Al Ahmad port refinery, was hit by a drone attack in the early hours of the day, causing multiple operational units to catch fire. So far, no casualties have been reported.

This is the second round of attacks against the Al Ahmad port refinery this year—the refinery had previously been hit by drone attacks for two consecutive days on March 19 and 20, which also triggered fires. The latest attack occurred against the backdrop of significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East since late February. Reports indicate Iran has continuously launched drone and missile attacks against energy infrastructure in several Gulf states, and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly been disrupted, with the global oil market's supply security risk premium continuing to be watched.

Since mid-March 2026, Kuwait has suffered multiple rounds of drone attacks, targeting refining facilities, airport fuel storage tanks, and oil tankers.

Refinery Hit Again, Emergency Plans Activated

The Al Ahmad port refinery is one of Kuwait’s largest refining facilities, operated by a subsidiary under KPC, with a daily processing capacity ranging from 346,000 to 730,000 barrels.

The drone attack in the early hours of April 3 caused multiple operational units to catch fire. KPC stated in its official announcement that emergency teams responded quickly, deploying firefighting forces and working to control the spread of the fire, with the affected units temporarily shut down. The statement also emphasized that environmental monitoring shows no significant negative changes in air quality around the refinery, and there are no reports of casualties.

This is the second round of attacks on the refinery in less than two weeks. On March 19 and 20, the refinery was struck by drones for two consecutive days, with several operational units catching fire. Emergency teams managed to contain the fires within a certain range, and again, there were no casualties. At that time, KPC characterized the event as a “hostile drone attack.”

Middle East Tensions Escalate, Gulf Energy Infrastructure Under Continuous Pressure

It is reported that this round of attacks targeting Gulf energy facilities is closely related to the significant escalation of Middle Eastern tensions since late February 2026. The conflict notably intensified around February 28, when Israel and the United States struck Iranian targets, after which Iran retaliated with large-scale drone and missile attacks targeting Israeli and U.S. interests in the region, as well as Gulf countries considered allied with or hosting U.S. assets.

Reports further state that Iran has continued to attack refineries, oil tankers, airports, and related facilities in Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, labeling them as part of its retaliatory actions. Meanwhile, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world's most important oil export channels—has reportedly faced disruption, adding extra pressure to the global energy supply chain.

Multiple Targets in Kuwait Attacked, Air Defense System Under Pressure

Since mid-March 2026, Kuwait has become a target of multiple drone attack incidents. Besides the Al Ahmad port refinery, the neighboring Mina Abdullah refinery has also been hit, causing a fire, which emergency teams brought under control, with no casualties.

In late March, fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport were hit by drones, causing a large fire—with no casualties. Additionally, a Kuwaiti oil tanker caught fire after being attacked in waters near Dubai. Other reports indicate that some military facilities have also been targeted, with some incidents resulting in injuries.

Kuwait’s air defense system has reportedly intercepted a number of incoming threats, though some drones managed to penetrate and caused limited damage to infrastructure.

The continued attacks on the Al Ahmad port refinery have raised concerns about the short-term stability of Kuwait’s refining capacity. As a major oil exporter in the Gulf, the state of Kuwait's refining facilities directly affects regional and even global oil supply.

The disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz further amplifies uncertainty in the supply chain. The Strait is a crucial bottleneck for global crude oil trade, and if transit is continuously blocked, it will have a substantial impact on the global energy market.

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