RIYADH/TEHRAN(RAHNUMA): Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Sunday they launched missile and drone strikes on aluminum plants in Bahrain and the UAE over the weekend, targeting what they described as industries linked to the US military.
The Guards also threatened to target US universities in the Middle East, while saying US-Israeli strikes had destroyed two Iranian universities. They demanded a US condemnation of the bombing of universities by noon (0830 GMT) Monday.
Since the Middle East war erupted at the end of February, Bahrain and other Gulf countries have regularly been targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes in retaliation for the US-Israeli campaign, now in its second month.
In a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, the Guards said they hit an aluminum facility in the UAE and Aluminium Bahrain’s main plant, calling both sites “industries affiliated with and connected to the US military and aerospace sectors in the region.”
The IRGC said the strikes were retaliation for a US-Israeli attack on Iranian industrial infrastructure launched from bases in Gulf states.
Aluminium Bahrain, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, said two employees were wounded in an Iranian strike targeting its facility on Saturday.
The company, also known as Alba, said the workers suffered minor injuries.
Alba added that it was assessing the impact on operations and would provide updates when available. It gave no details on damage to the site.
Emirates Global Aluminium confirmed on Saturday that the company’s Al-Taweelah site sustained significant damage during the Iranian missile and drone attacks at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi.
A number of EGA employees were injured. None of the injuries were life threatening.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive of EGA, said: “The safety and security of our people is our top priority at EGA at all times. We are deeply saddened and are assessing the damage to our facilities.”
EGA’s Al-Taweelah smelter produced 1.6 million tonnes of cast metal in 2025. EGA had substantial metal stock on the water when the conflict began, and stock on the ground in some overseas locations.
Gulf states intercept Iranian missile and drone attacks
Defense forces in the UAE and Kuwait said early Sunday they were actively responding to new waves of hostile missile and drone attacks launched from Iran, as the conflict triggered by a joint US-Israeli assault on Tehran entered its second month with no sign of abating.
The defense ministries of both states posted on X to reassure citizens that the explosions they were hearing were the result of air defense systems intercepting incoming fire.
“Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities,” Kuwait’s Army General Staff said in a separate statement, as four Iranian drones were intercepted and destroyed.
Air defenses engaged 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones on Sunday, the UAE defense ministry said.
In Saudi Arabia, the defense ministry reported Sunday morning the interception and destruction of 10 drones during the past hours.
Bahrain’s Defense Force reported it has engaged a total of 385 drones and 174 missiles since February 28.
