Iran launches more retaliatory attacks on economic installations in Arab Gulf countries

Ahram Online , Sunday 29 Mar 2026

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says it launched missile and drone strikes on aluminium plants in Bahrain and the UAE over the weekend in retaliation for a US-Israeli attack on Iranian industrial infrastructure.

Photo courtesy of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba)

In a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Guards said they hit an aluminium facility in the UAE and Aluminium Bahrain’s main plant, claiming that both sites are “industries affiliated with and connected to the US military and aerospace sectors in the region."

Aluminium Bahrain, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, said two employees were wounded in an Iranian strike targeting its facility on Saturday.

The company, also known as Alba, said the workers suffered minor injuries.

On Saturday, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) reported significant damage and multiple injuries from an Iranian attack at a facility it operates.

In a statement, EGA said its "Al Taweelah site sustained significant damage during the Iranian missile and drone attacks at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi", where authorities reported a fire earlier in the day caused by falling debris from an intercepted missile.

"A number of EGA employees were injured. None of the injuries are life threatening," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said in a statement shared to social media about three hours ago that the country had intercepted and destroyed 10 drones in the previous few hours.

Kuwait has said its air defence systems intercepted four drones attacking the country this morning.

In a statement posted to social media, the Kuwaiti army said that “any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile targets," without specifying who was behind the attacks.

In Oman, the foreign ministry said on Sunday that it condemns attacks on its territory, adding that no party has claimed responsibility.

It said authorities were investigating the attacks’ “sources and motives” without providing further details.

Oman said on Saturday that a worker was injured in a drone attack on the Gulf country’s Salalah port, and Danish container shipping group Maersk said later that it temporarily halted its operations at the port after Saturday’s attack.