Kuwait says girl killed as Iran targets Gulf

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s health ministry said on Wednesday an 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by falling shrapnel following waves of Iranian attacks across the Gulf.

Iran’s neighbours have borne the brunt of much of Tehran’s response since the US and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran over the weekend with at least 13 people killed in the region, including seven civilians.

Washington has also said four US servicemen were killed in Kuwait.

The US embassy in Kuwait was targeted by drones, while its energy infrastructure has also been hit in recent days.

“Resuscitation was performed in the ambulance while the girl was being transported to the hospital,” the health ministry said in a statement.

READ MORE: Iran Guards say launched more than 40 missiles at US, Israeli targets

“Attempts continued for nearly half an hour upon arrival at Al-Amiri Hospital. However, she passed away due to her injuries,” it added.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it intercepted a drone targeting its massive Ras Tanura refinery on the Gulf coast, days after an earlier Monday strike on the complex forced some operations to halt following a fire.

“Initial estimates indicate that the attack was carried out by a drone and did not result in any damage,” the ministry said in a statement.

The war continued to rattle the Gulf elsewhere with stocks dropping sharply in the United Arab Emirates on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi exchanges after a two-day trading suspension.

The main Dubai index fell 4.7 percent, while Abu Dhabi’s dropped nearly two percent.

The United Arab Emirates and Qatar said they had intercepted Iranian drone and missile barrages, with the UAE reporting it engaged three ballistic missiles and intercepted 121 of 129 drones, while Qatar said it shot down 10 drones and two cruise missiles.

Earlier, Kuwait’s military said it detected incoming projectiles and was working to intercept the missiles and drones in its airspace.

In Saudi Arabia, the defence ministry said two cruise missiles were intercepted over an area south of the capital Riyadh, which is also home to the sprawling Prince Sultan air base, and several drones were destroyed after entering its airspace. 

Qatar authorities also announced they had dismantled two spy cells linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, its official press agency reported. 

“Close surveillance made it possible to arrest 10 suspects: seven were tasked with spying and gathering information about vital and military infrastructure in the country, and three were meant to carry out sabotage operations,” the agency said.

Iranian missiles and drones have slammed Gulf states’ cities and infrastructure, upending relations with Tehran and placing the neighbours on a potential course for greater military confrontation.