Daijiworld Media Network - Kuwait City
Kuwait City, Jul 18: Several Kuwaiti firefighters and a civilian worker were injured while responding to fires at two locations struck during Iranian missile attacks on Saturday, authorities said, as fresh hostilities heightened tensions in the Gulf.
The Kuwait Fire Force said in a statement that five firefighting teams were deployed to one of the affected sites and three teams to another. The injuries occurred during firefighting operations at the first location, and those hurt were shifted to hospitals for treatment.
Officials did not disclose the exact locations of the targeted sites or the extent of the injuries, stating that emergency operations were still in progress and further details would be released later.
The incident followed a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks early Saturday, during which Kuwait said its air defence systems successfully intercepted multiple "hostile" projectiles.
According to the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army, explosions heard across parts of the country were the result of air defence systems neutralising incoming missiles and drones. The military said it continued to respond to the evolving security situation and urged residents to follow official safety advisories.
State news agency KUNA reported that warning sirens were sounded across Kuwait for the fourth time, reflecting the heightened security alert.
The attacks also disrupted civil aviation, forcing Kuwait International Airport to temporarily suspend take-off and landing operations. Kuwait Airways later announced that it had rescheduled most of its flights after airport operations were affected by the security situation.
In a separate development, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed that another power generation and water desalination plant was hit in a strike, causing a fire at the facility.
As a precaution, several power generation units were shut down to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the stability of the national electricity grid. Emergency repair and restoration work is currently underway.
The ministry also appealed to the public to reduce electricity consumption, particularly during peak demand hours between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., to help maintain a stable power supply while repairs continue.
The latest attacks come amid renewed regional instability despite the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed in mid-June, under which both countries had agreed to hold negotiations within 60 days aimed at reaching a broader agreement.