Key Points
- Kuwait International Airport hit by drones and missiles to halt operations briefly
- Around 30 ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran, Kuwait says
- Iranian envoy summoned and ordered diplomatic expulsions
ISLAMABAD: Clashes across the Gulf escalated after reported US strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, with retaliatory attacks hitting multiple regional targets including Kuwait, raising fears of Iran-US war escalation and expansion.
According to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, drones and missiles struck Kuwait International Airport, causing significant damage to airport facilities and forcing a temporary suspension of operations.
The attack disrupted air traffic at one of the country’s key transport hubs.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry confirmed that one person was killed in the strike and dozens more were injured.
Among the dead was an Indian national, a fact later confirmed by New Delhi, which condemned the attack and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Several Indian citizens were also reported injured.
The government of Kuwait said its air defence systems detected around 30 ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran, many of which were intercepted over populated and sensitive areas.
Officials said debris from intercepted projectiles caused secondary damage across residential zones and critical infrastructure.
At least 63 people were injured in total, according to Kuwait’s health ministry, including airport employees and passengers present during the attack.
Authorities briefly suspended airport operations, though limited flights later resumed for Kuwait Airways as emergency assessments continued.
The Kuwaiti defence ministry described the strike as a “heinous aggression” targeting civilian and vital facilities, underscoring what it called a deliberate escalation amid worsening regional tensions.
Following the attack, Kuwait’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in Kuwait and issued a formal protest note, demanding the departure of two Iranian embassy staff within 24 hours.
Diplomatic tensions have deepened as exchanges between the United States and Iran continue with little visible progress on the diplomatic front, raising concerns that the Gulf could see further retaliatory strikes in the coming days.
