Dubai: Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery has once again been targeted in an Iranian drone attack, triggering a fire in parts of the facility, authorities said on Friday, marking a fresh escalation in the widening Gulf conflict.

The latest strike comes amid intensifying hostilities across the region, with Israel launching fresh airstrikes on Tehran even as Iranians marked Nowruz. Activists reported explosions around the Iranian capital following Israel’s continued military campaign.

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The attacks follow a brief pause in strikes on key Iranian energy infrastructure, with Israel earlier indicating it would refrain from targeting a major gas field. However, Iran has since intensified its offensive, focusing on oil and natural gas facilities across the Gulf.

Explosions were also reported in Dubai early Friday, where air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles as residents marked Eid al-Fitr. The blasts were heard as mosques made the first call to prayer.

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Meanwhile, Iran continued missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, with sirens sounding across northern regions, including Haifa, the Galilee and areas near the Lebanese border. According to Israel’s military, more than a dozen missile launches were recorded on Thursday alone, forcing millions into shelters.

The escalating conflict has rattled global energy markets, particularly due to Iran’s strategic position along the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Brent crude oil prices briefly surged above $119 per barrel, a rise of over 60 per cent since the conflict began, while European natural gas prices have also nearly doubled over the past month.

Diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis are ongoing. The United Nations Security Council held an urgent closed-door meeting on Thursday, where Gulf nations called on Iran to halt attacks on regional targets.