The US military says it has completed its latest round of strikes on Iran’s military infrastructure after vowing to “swiftly punish” Tehran for an attack on Jordan that left two US service members dead and one missing in action. Explosions have also been heard in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island, Iranian state media reported.
• US casualties: President Donald Trump described the deaths, the first US military fatalities caused by Iranian fire since March, as “a very sad thing.” CENTCOM said it will withhold their identities until 24 hours after their next of kin are notified.
• Wider conflict: The Jordanian government denied the international airport and seaport in the port city of Aqaba were evacuated today, after the US Embassy in Jordan said it faced a “specific and credible threat.” Meanwhile, authorities in Bahrain and Kuwait say they have intercepted Iranian attacks.
A Kuwaiti power and desalination plant has been attacked by Iran for the second time in two days, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said in a statement a short while ago, as Iranian strikes on US regional allies persist.
The Iranian strike was “heinous,” the ministry said, calling it “second hostile attack in two days.”
A resulting fire impacted a “large number of electricity generation units,” the ministry said, leading to the activation of emergency plans to maintain the stability of the plant’s electrical system.
Yesterday’s attack also saw a fire break out at the plant, but only in “one of the plant’s components,” according to the ministry.
A similar attack also took place on Friday, the ministry said after which the electrical generation units of a Kuwaiti power generation and water desalination plant were damaged in a fire that resulted from the Iranian strike.
Kuwait has been one of the countries most frequently targeted by Iran since hostilities resumed between Tehran and Washington. In Kuwait, desalination accounts for around 90% of freshwater needs.
