Iran attacks US base in Qatar, Kuwait urges residents to conserve electricity

Shafaq News- Tehran/Doha

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out,on Friday, a "large-scale surprise attack" on the US Al-Udeid AirBase in Qatar, after announcing strikes on military equipment at a US base inKuwait.

According to IRGC, the attacks were “retaliation for US warcrimes and attacks on civilians.”

Iranian state television said a US strike earlier targetedthe maritime control tower in Chabahar, describing it as the third missileattack in recent days. The broadcaster noted that the strike completelydestroyed the tower, which was responsible for managing maritime navigation andcoordinating fishing rescue operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Israelwas conducting "a broad campaign" to mislead the US administrationand push it toward "an unwinnable war."

In Kuwait, the Ministry of Electricity revealed that Iranianstrikes damaged a large number of power generation and water desalinationunits. The ministry activated emergency plans immediately after the attack tolimit its impact and preserve the stability of the national electricity grid. “Firefightingteams had brought the resulting blaze under control, and we urge citizens andresidents to conserve electricity during an exceptional period."

At sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)said military activity off the coast of Oman affected an oil tanker and acommercial vessel.

The UKMTO also added that it received a report of anincident involving a merchant ship and military forces east of Duqm, off thecoast of Oman. It later reported that unauthorized individuals had boarded avessel about 65 nautical miles south of Mukalla, Yemen, while it was sailingeast of the Gulf of Aden. 

Reuters, citing maritime security sources, reported thatarmed men had seized the chemical tanker Asana in the Gulf of Aden while it wasen route to Bosaso, Somalia.

Separately, maritime analytics firm Kpler reported that onlyeight ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, marking the lowestdaily traffic through the strategic waterway in three weeks.