Iran missiles inflict heavy damage on power plant in Kuwait, ministry says

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait — Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water said Friday that a power and water desalination facility in the country sustained significant damage and caught fire following an Iranian attack. The ministry did not disclose the location of the targeted installation, but said emergency plans were activated and the stability of the electricity grid was preserved. The ministry added that the fire was brought under control and extinguished, and that technical teams have begun damage assessment and safety work in coordination with the relevant agencies. It said efforts are underway to restore the damaged units to service as quickly as possible and urged citizens to use electricity sparingly during the emergency period. Kuwait's Ministry of Defense had said a day earlier that 32 hostile drones that entered the country's airspace were intercepted, and that various strategic facilities were targeted in Iranian-origin attacks, though no casualties were reported. Tehran has said it was targeting U.S. interests and allies in the Gulf region in response to recent U.S. strikes. The escalation comes amid ongoing Pakistan- and Qatar-mediated talks between the parties that followed a ceasefire agreement signed on June 18.