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Iran claims retaliatory strikes on key Gulf energy sites, warns US of ‘more destructive phase’

April 7, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for several strikes targeting US-linked energy and petrochemical sites in the Gulf, following US-Israeli attacks on major Iranian infrastructure.

The IRGC said it attacked US gas facilities linked to ExxonMobil and Chevron in the UAE.

It also said it launched “a missile attack on US petrochemical facilities producing fuel materials for the US armed forces and military products for the Israeli entity in Al-Ruwais, UAE, causing a widespread fire.”

It also confirmed that Tehran was behind drone attacks on US-linked petrochemical sites in Sitra, Bahrain, including the Bapco refinery, as well as in southern Kuwait’s Shuaiba.

Additionally, the IRGC claimed “a severe attack on a refinery supplying fuel for the child-killing fighter jets of the Israeli entity in Haifa, which led to the destruction of its main sections.”

“[The US and Israel] must know that in response to the aggression against non-military infrastructure in Iran, what happened today is only the first phase of the response that we had previously warned against,” it went on to say.

“We announced from the beginning that any aggression against non-military targets would be met with a reciprocal response against the enemy’s interests anywhere in the region. In the event that the attack on non-military targets is repeated, the second phase of this operation will be carried out in a more destructive and wider manner, and their damages and losses will multiply due to their persistence in this approach.”

Clouds of black smoke were seen rising from the targeted facilities in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait early on 5 April.

BREAKING | Strikes on Bahrain, reportedly at Bapco Sitra Refinery pic.twitter.com/xgenWrqPig

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 5, 2026

VIDEO | A drone strike ignited a fire at Kuwait’s Shuwaikh oil complex, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said, adding no casualties were reported and crews are responding. pic.twitter.com/5Fl52j30WN

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 5, 2026

Kuwaiti authorities claimed Iran also struck a desalination plant. Tehran had recently denied an earlier attack on a Kuwaiti desalination facility, calling it a new Israeli false-flag aimed at causing chaos and destabilization.

VIDEO | Circulating footage reportedly shows attacks on a Kuwaiti energy facility.

According to Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, power and water desalination plants were hit by a drone strike, resulting in significant damage. Two power generation units are out of service. pic.twitter.com/bmc1ZWpCUB

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 5, 2026

Officials in the UAE said operations at the Borouge petrochemical plant were suspended following the outbreak of multiple fires caused by the Iranian strikes.

US and Israeli airstrikes recently bombarded major infrastructure in Iran, including the B1 Bridge and the Pasteur Institute. Over the weekend, US-Israeli strikes targeted one of Iran’s largest petrochemical facilities, the Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex.

The IRGC’s announcement on Sunday came as US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over the coming days.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it! Open the fuckin’ strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in hell – JUST WATCH. Praise be to Allah,” the president said.