US-Iran Ceasefire Collapses Amid Gulf Infrastructure Attacks

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, announced on Wednesday, failed to halt escalating attacks across the Persian Gulf, with dozens of drones and missiles striking key oil and gas infrastructure in multiple countries just hours after the agreement took effect. The truce aimed to restore limited passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy shipments, but violence persisted, raising doubts about its durability and disrupting hopes for regional stability.

In the immediate aftermath, Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting facilities in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. Kuwaiti authorities reported intercepting 28 drones on Wednesday, which caused severe damage to oil facilities, three power stations, and desalination plants. A follow-up drone attack on Thursday evening killed one person at vital infrastructure sites, according to the foreign ministry. In the UAE, air defenses downed 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones, but falling debris sparked a fire at the Habshan gas complex in Abu Dhabi, the nation's largest processing plant, killing at least one worker and forcing a...