Middle East tensions: Kuwait says power, water plant hit by Iranian attack

Dubai: Iran attacked a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait on Friday, causing significant damage as fighting with the United States escalated, while Washington widened its air campaign by targeting bridges, power infrastructure and a strategic Iranian port.

Kuwait's Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry said the strike sparked a fire and damaged multiple electricity generation units at the facility.

"One of the power and water distillation plants was the target of an attack as part of the Iranian aggression... resulting in a fire, damage, and the impairment of several production units," the electricity ministry said in a statement, urging users "to ration their electricity consumption during this exceptional period".

The ministry revealed that firefighters had extinguished the blaze and authorities were assessing the damage while working to restore operations. Kuwait relies on desalination for around 90 per cent of its drinking water, making the facility critical to the country's water supply.

The attack came as the US launched another wave of airstrikes across southern Iran, targeting bridges in Hormozgan province, power infrastructure and facilities at Chabahar port, a key trade gateway on the Gulf of Oman.

Iranian authorities said the overnight strikes killed at least seven people in Hormozgan, while the country's Health Ministry said the latest US attacks had left at least 38 people dead and more than 400 injured.

For the first time since the conflict intensified, Iran officially acknowledged damage to its power infrastructure, with the Energy Ministry urging residents in southern provinces to conserve electricity because the region was experiencing "extreme heat and attacks on power infrastructure."

Speaking in a televised address, US President Donald Trump defended the military campaign.

"We are likewise winning big in Iran, and you will see the fruits of that labour very, very shortly," Trump said.

Iran also launched missile attacks targeting Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, while Jordan said it intercepted incoming missiles over its territory.

Meanwhile, the British military said a commercial tanker sustained minor damage while transiting the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. No injuries were reported.

The renewed escalation comes after a temporary ceasefire collapsed, with both Washington and Tehran intensifying attacks around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route.