Kuwait core oil refinery attacked, multiple facilities on fire

In the early morning of April 3, the Al Ahmad Port Refinery in Kuwait was once again hit by a drone attack, causing fires in several operating units. This is the latest example of how the ongoing Middle East conflict is spilling over into the Gulf region’s energy infrastructure, heightening concerns over regional supply security.

According to CCTV News, on April 3 local time, the central station reporter learned from Kuwait National Petroleum Company that the Al Ahmad Port Refinery, operated by one of its subsidiaries, was attacked by drones in the early morning, resulting in multiple operating units catching fire, with no casualty reports at this time.

This is the second strike on the Al Ahmad Port Refinery this year—the facility was previously hit by drone attacks and fires over two consecutive days, March 19 to 20. The latest incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating turmoil in the Middle East since late February, with reports indicating that Iran has been launching ongoing drone and missile attacks on the energy infrastructure of several Gulf countries. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has also reportedly been disrupted, drawing continued attention to the risk premiums affecting global oil supply security.

Since mid-March 2026, Kuwait has faced multiple rounds of drone attacks targeting refineries, airport fuel 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 of KPC, with a daily processing capacity between 346,000 and 730,000 barrels.

The drone attack in the early morning of April 3 caused multiple operating units at the facility to catch fire. In its official statement, KPC said emergency teams responded swiftly, deployed firefighting resources, and are working to contain the spread of the blaze, with the affected units temporarily shut down. The statement also emphasized that current environmental monitoring shows no significant negative changes in air quality around the refinery and no casualties have been reported.

This is already the second attack on the facility in less than two weeks. From March 19 to 20, the refinery was struck by drones for two consecutive days, causing fires in several operating units. Emergency teams managed to contain the blaze with no casualties reported. KPC characterized these incidents at the time as "hostile drone attacks."

Middle East Tensions Escalate, Gulf Energy Infrastructure Under Constant Pressure

Reports indicate that the current wave of attacks on the Gulf region's energy infrastructure is closely linked to the significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East since late February 2026. The conflict intensified markedly around February 28, as Israel and the United States struck Iranian targets. Iran responded with large-scale drone and missile counterattacks against Israeli and U.S. interests in the region, also affecting Gulf countries seen as U.S. allies or hosts of U.S. assets.

Reportedly, Iran has continued to attack refineries, oil tankers, airports, and related facilities in Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and other Gulf countries, characterizing these as part of its retaliatory actions. At the same time, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most important crude oil export routes—has reportedly been disrupted, adding extra pressure on the global energy supply chain.

Multiple Targets Hit in Kuwait, Air Defense Under Strain

Since mid-March 2026, Kuwait has been the target of multiple drone strikes. In addition to the Al Ahmad Port Refinery, the nearby Mina Abdullah refinery has also been attacked, causing fires that emergency teams managed to control with no casualties.

In late March, fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport were hit by drone strikes, resulting in large-scale fires, though no casualties occurred. Additionally, a Kuwaiti oil tanker was set aflame following an attack near Dubai waters. Other reports indicate that some military facilities have also been targeted, with a few incidents resulting in injuries.

Reportedly, Kuwait’s air defense system has intercepted several waves of incoming threats, but some drones have managed to penetrate and cause limited damage to infrastructure.

The ongoing 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 operational status of Kuwait’s refining facilities has a direct impact on the supply of petroleum products regionally and globally.

The continued disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz further amplifies uncertainty in the supply chain. As a key chokepoint in the global crude oil trade, any prolonged obstruction of passage through this strait would have a substantial impact on global energy markets.