Iran has claimed attacks on the two largest aluminum smelters in the Gulf, in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
In a conflict that shows no signs of de-escalation, Tehran is expanding its retaliatory strategy to the industrial infrastructure of Gulf countries.
The Revolutionary Guards now threaten to strike American universities in the Middle East, while increasing speculation suggests a potential American ground deployment in Iran.
Iran claimed Sunday to have carried out attacks on two of the world’s largest aluminum smelters in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, sparking fears of major disruptions to the global economy after a month of war in the Middle East.
In a conflict with no signs of de-escalation, Iran and Israel continue to exchange bombardments, and several Gulf countries report new Iranian attacks. On Saturday, pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen opened a new front in the war by launching two attacks against Israel.
The Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s ideological army, claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks that damaged Aluminum Bahrain (Alba) and Emirates Global Aluminium (Ega) factories on Saturday.
Alba, one of the world’s largest smelters, had already announced on March 15 the closure of 19% of its production capacity to deal with supply disruptions caused by Iran’s blocking of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The company confirmed on Sunday that two employees were injured in the Iranian attack, and is assessing the extent of the damage in its factory.
On Saturday, Ega announced that its Al Taweelah plant in Abu Dhabi, one of its two sites in the UAE, had suffered “significant damage” in an attack that left six injured.
Threats against universities
These two companies, supported by American investments and partnerships, play a significant role in supplying the military industries of the American army, according to the Revolutionary Guards.
They claimed to have acted in retaliation for American-Israeli attacks on industrial infrastructure in Iran.
Sunday morning, according to the Iranian news agency Irna, new strikes hit a dock at the Iranian port of Bandar Khamir near the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in five deaths and four injuries.
The Guards also threatened on Sunday to strike American universities in the Middle East, in retaliation for what they claim were attacks that damaged two universities in Iran.
Many American universities have campuses in Gulf countries, such as Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates.
Missile and drone attacks continued on Sunday across the region. In Tehran, an AFP journalist heard explosions twice from the north of the city, with smoke rising from affected areas to the east.
The Qatari channel Al Araby announced that its office in the Iranian capital was hit by a strike.
In Israel, the army reported, as in previous nights, Iranian missiles heading towards its territory, urging people in targeted areas to take cover.
Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also reported drone and missile attacks early Sunday.
As part of diplomatic efforts to end the war, Turkish, Pakistani, Egyptian, and Saudi officials are set to meet in Islamabad on Sunday and Monday for “in-depth discussions.”
Speculations about a ground operation
Speculations are rife about the deployment of American troops on the ground in Iran.
According to the Washington Post, which cited American officials on Saturday, the Pentagon is preparing for ground operations lasting several weeks.
These operations are not expected to lead to a large-scale invasion of Iran, according to officials, but would involve raids into Iranian territory by special forces and other soldiers.
The US military announced on Saturday the arrival of the Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, in the Middle East leading a naval group with “some 3,500” sailors and Marines.
In recent days, several American media outlets have reported that Donald Trump is considering sending at least 10,000 troops to the Middle East soon.
In an interview on a podcast aired on Saturday, Vice President JD Vance stated that the United States had “accomplished all their military goals” in Iran, but it was necessary for the war to continue “a bit longer” to prevent it from resuming in two years.
On Saturday, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed two attacks on Israel within hours.
While global maritime traffic is heavily disrupted by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the entry of the Houthis into the war could worsen the situation. The united rebels carried out numerous attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea between 2023 and 2025, during the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
(AFP)
