Iran struck Kuwait twice on Friday, April 3. A drone attack hit the Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery -- Kuwait's largest, processing 346,000 barrels per day -- setting parts of the facility ablaze. [1] Hours later, a separate strike damaged a power and water desalination plant, causing material damage to the facility's service building. [2]

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed the refinery attack and said firefighters contained the fires. [3] No injuries were reported at the refinery. The desalination plant strike was more consequential for the civilian population: Kuwait depends on desalinated seawater for the majority of its freshwater supply. [2] The Times of Israel reported that the desalination facility sustained material damage but continued partial operations. [4]

The Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery fire produced a smoke column visible from Kuwait City. Partial shutdowns are underway. [5] The twin strikes represent an escalation in Iran's targeting of Gulf civilian infrastructure -- oil and water in a single day.

-- PRIYA SHARMA, Delhi