Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it launched missile and drone attacks on aluminium facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The statement, broadcast by Iran’s state media overnight on Sunday, said the targeted sites were linked to the United States military. Aluminium Bahrain reported two employees injured, while Emirates Global Aluminium in Abu Dhabi confirmed significant damage and six injuries. The IRGC described the strikes as retaliation for a US-Israeli attack on Iranian industrial infrastructure allegedly launched from Gulf bases hosting US forces.

The attacks come amid escalating regional hostilities following the outbreak of the Middle East war at the end of February. Al Jazeera reported that between 4 to 9 percent of global aluminium supply originates from the Gulf, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions. Additional drone incidents were reported across the region, including an attack at Oman’s Salalah port that injured one worker and prompted Maersk to halt operations temporarily. Oman condemned the assault and began investigating its source.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also reported intercepting multiple drones over their territories. Analysts warned that continued retaliatory strikes could further escalate tensions across the Gulf Cooperation Council states.