A huge fire engulfed a government tower in Kuwait City Tower early Sunday, following drone attacks in the Gulf region. The blaze reportedly began at the Public Institution for Social Security headquarters.
The Kuwait army said the strikes targeted fuel storage and government infrastructure, causing extensive damage. Citizens were urged to follow safety instructions as firefighters worked to contain the flames, which threatened surrounding buildings.
Across the Gulf, missile and drone attacks increased. Bahrain reported three people injured after missile fragments struck a university building in Muharraq.
Damage was also reported at a water desalination plant, critical for local drinking supplies.
In Tehran, Israel’s overnight strikes on oil depots sent plumes of black smoke into the sky. Locals described the morning as if night had fallen, with burned fuel filling the air and shops catching fire.
Footage from Koohsar Boulevard in Tehran shows flames spreading beyond oil depots into nearby streets. Residents reported homes and shops ablaze. Authorities confirmed four tanker drivers were killed in the strikes, highlighting the human toll of attacks.
Meanwhile, Israel warned residents in southern Beirut to evacuate. Overnight strikes hit a hotel, killing at least four people and injuring ten more. The hotel was housing civilians displaced from southern Lebanon and Beirut suburbs.
The IDF claimed responsibility for a “precise strike” on key commanders of the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps. Israel stated the operation targeted personnel involved in planning terror attacks against Israeli civilians and infrastructure.
Lebanese authorities reported multiple overnight strikes across 20 towns and villages. Eight additional fatalities occurred, and nearly half a million residents have been displaced since the escalation of violence in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s suburbs.
Civilian facilities in Kuwait were also damaged by falling debris after interception of hostile drones. The Kuwait army confirmed material damage to public buildings while air force units continued engaging aerial threats to protect citizens.
US President Donald Trump took aim at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, criticizing the UK’s delayed involvement. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won,” in reference to Middle East operations.
Trump further claimed US forces had neutralized 42 Iranian navy ships, destroyed factories, and crippled the air force within six days. “We’re winning at levels never seen before and quickly,” he asserted during an interview with CBS News.
He dismissed threats from Iran’s national security official Ali Larijani, saying, “I have no idea what he’s talking about… He’s already been defeated,” reinforcing his confidence in US strategy and military dominance in the region.
The comments followed reports that the UK’s aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, had been placed on advanced readiness. Trump emphasized that additional allied ships were unnecessary, calling late deployment “a little bit late.”
Starmer has yet to respond directly to Trump’s comments. However, he criticized Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for playing “political games” during the crisis, emphasizing the need for seriousness amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
In the Gulf, a resident of Dubai was killed when shrapnel from an “aerial interception” struck a vehicle in the Al Barsha area. Officials said hostile drones caused widespread material damage to civilian infrastructure.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned of a “moment of grave peril,” citing hundreds of thousands displaced across Lebanon and Iran. He urged cool heads and noted the broader impact on countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The IDF announced additional waves of strikes across Iran, targeting key infrastructure. Meanwhile, Iranian officials highlighted that US misinterpretation of Iran’s capabilities had damaged de-escalation prospects. The strikes marked a rapid intensification of the conflict.
Local media in Tehran reported dense black smoke blanketing the skyline after strikes on multiple oil depots in Alborz and Tehran provinces. Residents struggled to contact family due to intermittent internet outages amid the chaos.
Bahrain confirmed injuries and structural damage from Iranian attacks on critical facilities. The government highlighted risks to water supply infrastructure and called on citizens to adhere to emergency instructions. These incidents underscore Iran’s regional reach and ongoing threats.
In Israel, air raid sirens sounded in Netanya as rockets launched from Iran were intercepted. Opposition politician Yair Lapid urged the government to destroy Iran’s oil fields, highlighting domestic calls for escalated military action to cripple the Iranian economy.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport also suffered damage from airstrikes, igniting fires visible across the city. Residents described waking up to a blackened sky and strong odors of burnt fuel, reflecting the escalating intensity and civilian impact of the strikes.
The fire in Kuwait City Tower was eventually brought under control by firefighters, but authorities continue to investigate the scale of damage and potential links to the broader Iran-Israel-US-Gulf conflict, which has rapidly intensified overnight.
As the conflict escalates, regional governments are grappling with the immediate humanitarian impact. Displacement, damaged infrastructure, and civilian casualties are increasing, while international calls for restraint remain, though military operations continue unabated.
Trump’s criticisms of Starmer and UK defense posture further complicate diplomatic relations. With the Prince of Wales on advanced readiness, the UK faces scrutiny for its strategic role, balancing defense support for allies with domestic political considerations.
Lebanon continues to reel from strikes. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and residents flee southern suburbs. Relief agencies are mobilizing, but ongoing Israeli operations make access hazardous. Civilians remain the most vulnerable in the rapidly evolving conflict.
Iranian officials have yet to issue an official statement on the recent strikes in Tehran and Alborz. Analysts warn that further escalation could trigger broader regional conflict, with Gulf states, Israel, and Iran all at risk of wider military engagements.
The UN has called for de-escalation, stressing that civilian populations face immediate peril. Tom Fletcher noted that food, water, and fuel shortages could compound humanitarian crises in neighboring countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Experts suggest that the rapid pace of missile and drone strikes reflects both Iranian retaliatory capabilities and Israeli pre-emptive strategy. Civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dubai has become collateral in the broader regional contest.
As the smoke clears over Kuwait City Tower, authorities continue damage assessments and emergency response. Firefighters, military, and civil defense units remain on high alert for potential follow-on attacks in the Gulf region.
The next 48 hours are expected to be critical. Observers warn that ongoing strikes, coupled with political statements from leaders like Trump, could rapidly escalate the conflict into a broader war, drawing in multiple regional and global actors.
Read more here: Trump tells Starmer help not needed amid Iran strikes
