Iran hits UAE and Kuwait energy sites on day 37
Confidence: HIGH (78/100) | April 06, 2026 | Israel
In one sentence: Iran struck the UAE's Borouge petrochemical plant and Kuwait's KPC Shuwaikh complex and power stations on April 5-6, extending its six-week campaign against Gulf energy infrastructure.
Why it matters: Iran's sustained strikes on UAE and Kuwaiti energy infrastructure — including petrochemical plants, desalination facilities, and oil sector headquarters — represent a deliberate campaign to pressure US-aligned Gulf states hosting American forces. Kuwait's oil exports remain halted under an effective Hormuz blockade, and the UAE has absorbed more projectiles than any other Gulf state. Trump's self-imposed deadline of April 6 for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz places the conflict at a potential new escalation threshold.
What Happened Today
- Multiple fires broke out at Abu Dhabi's Borouge petrochemicals plant on April 5 caused by debris from Iranian missile interceptions; the UAE Ministry of Defence reported intercepting 9 ballistic missiles, 1 cruise missile, and 50 drones launched from Iran on April 5, according to Gulf News and the UAE Ministry of Defence.
- Kuwait's KPC Shuwaikh complex — which houses the oil ministry and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation headquarters — caught fire following an Iranian drone attack on April 5-6 and was fully evacuated, while two separate power and water desalination plants sustained significant material damage, Kuwait's state news agency KUNA reported citing Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity.
- Iran's Army stated it targeted a radar system for missile and drone detection as well as aluminum industries in the UAE using Arash-2 drones, and struck US command headquarters for mechanized, armored, and helicopter units in Kuwait, according to an Iranian Army statement cited by Press TV via GlobalSecurity.org.
- As of April 5, the UAE Ministry of Defence reported its air defences had cumulatively intercepted 498 ballistic missiles, 23 cruise missiles, and 2,141 drones since the conflict began on February 28, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence.
- Trump set April 6 as his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening extensive attacks on Iranian energy sites if it did not comply; Iran stated it would not reopen the strait for a temporary ceasefire, according to The National and Gulf News.
Contested Claims
- IRGC / Iranian Army official statements: Iran claims its strikes exclusively target US military installations and assets across the Gulf region. Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority (KUNA), UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahrain Ministry of Interior: Gulf states including Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain state that Iranian strikes have hit civilian infrastructure including airports, desalination plants, residential buildings, and petrochemical facilities unrelated to US military operations.
- IRGC statement, April 2, cited by Wikipedia / GlobalSecurity: Iran's April 3 attack targeted an Oracle data center in Dubai, which Iran said is linked to US-Israeli military-technology interests. UAE Ministry of Defence: UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed the Oracle building was targeted but reported only minor damage with no injuries.
Unverified / Single Source
- (Unverified — single source — state media / IRGC only; not independently corroborated by Kuwait or US CENTCOM) Iran's IRGC claimed it targeted US forces on Kuwait's Bubiyan island. [IRGC statement cited by The National]
- (Unverified — single source; not independently corroborated by UAE Ministry of Defence casualty statements as of April 6) An Egyptian citizen and four additional foreign workers were killed in a strike on a gas facility in Abu Dhabi's Habshan area on April 3. [Alma Research and Education Center (citing unnamed reports)]
- (Unverified — state media only; sourced from IRGC via non-wire aggregator; not independently confirmed by US CENTCOM or Kuwait/Bahrain governments) The IRGC's 95th wave of Operation True Promise IV struck American HIMARS launchers in Kuwait and a Patriot missile system in Bahrain on approximately April 4. [IRGC statement cited by news-pravda.com (pro-Russian aggregator)]
Numbers
| Metric | Today | War Total |
|---|---|---|
| Projectiles intercepted by UAE air defences on April 5 | 9 ballistic missiles, 1 cruise missile, 50 drones | — |
| UAE cumulative projectiles intercepted since Feb 28 | 498 ballistic missiles, 23 cruise missiles, 2,141 UAVs (as of Apr 4-5) | — |
| UAE total killed since conflict began (military and civilian) | 12 (2 Emirati military, 1 Moroccan contractor, 10 civilian foreigners); 217 injured | — |
| Brent crude price | Above $111 per barrel | — |
| Kuwait pre-war oil production (now halted for export) | ~2.6 million barrels per day | — |
| Total projectiles fired at UAE since Feb 28 (as of Apr 1) | — | 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, 2,012 UAVs |
| Iranian killed in US-Israeli strikes since Feb 28 | — | At least 2,076 (Iran Health Ministry); over 26,500 injured |
| Israelis killed by Iranian strikes | — | At least 24 killed, 6,594+ wounded |
| US military fatalities from Iranian attacks across region | — | 13 confirmed |
| Kuwait — military wounded in conflict | — | 67 army servicemen |
| Arab world GDP contraction estimate (first month of war) | — | $120bn–$194bn (3.7–6%) |
| Sources: UAE Ministry of Defence / Gulf News, April 6, US military, cited by Al Jazeera, Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense, cited by Wikipedia, The National, Iran Health Ministry, cited by Al Jazeera, UAE Ministry of Defence, UAE Ministry of Defence, cited by Gulf News, UNDP report, cited by Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera live tracker, Gulf News, April 6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Iran striking the UAE and Kuwait if they are not at war with Iran? Iran states it is targeting US military installations hosted on Gulf soil, accusing the UAE and Kuwait of enabling the US-Israeli campaign. Both Gulf states deny allowing their territory to be used offensively against Iran. Kuwait's Emir publicly stated his country did not permit use of its land, airspace, or waters for any attack on Iran.
Is Kuwait International Airport still open? No. Kuwait International Airport has been closed to all commercial traffic since at least March 25, 2026, following a drone strike that hit fuel storage tanks and caused a large fire, according to Al Jazeera citing Kuwait's General Directorate of Civil Aviation.
What happens if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by April 6? US President Trump threatened extensive strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure — including power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island — if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by April 6. Iran has stated it will not reopen the strait for a temporary ceasefire, according to The National.
Background
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated surprise airstrikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and destroying key military infrastructure. Iran responded immediately with Operation True Promise IV — launching missiles and drones at Israel, US bases, and all six Gulf Cooperation Council states. The UAE and Kuwait, which host major US military facilities, have absorbed repeated salvoes targeting energy infrastructure, airports, and military installations over the 37-day conflict.
Sources
- gulfnews.com — untitled (unknown date)
- thenationalnews.com — untitled (unknown date)
- aljazeera.com — untitled (unknown date)
- en.wikipedia.org — untitled (unknown date)
- globalsecurity.org — untitled (unknown date)
- scmp.com — untitled (unknown date)
- israel-alma.org — untitled (unknown date)
- newlandchase.com — untitled (unknown date)
- crisisgroup.org — untitled (unknown date)