Kuwait Under Attack: Casualties and Reactions
At least one individual has died, and 63 others sustained injuries due to missile and drone strikes from Iran on Kuwait’s international airport, as reported by Kuwaiti authorities on Wednesday.
Kuwait condemned these strikes, labeling them as violations of its sovereignty and international law. However, in response, it took limited action, expelling two Iranian diplomats and ordering a downsizing of Iranian embassy staff.
Eyewitness footage circulating online depicted significant destruction at the airport, showcasing fires, debris scattered across the area, and panic as people fled amidst smoke.
U.S. Central Command reported that another wave of Iranian drones aimed at U.S. forces in Kuwait was thwarted, with air defense systems successfully intercepting multiple drones, ensuring no harm came to U.S. personnel or property.
The Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed outrage, describing the “brutal and sustained Iranian attacks” that targeted civilian and vital facilities, including the airport, leading to one fatality and numerous injuries, as well as damage to significant infrastructures, like diplomatic missions.
The ministry emphasized that the safety and sovereignty of Kuwait and its residents are inviolable red lines. Kuwait, joining the ranks of other Gulf states that have faced Iranian aggression since the initiation of Operation Epic Fury in February, stated it reserves the right to act against Iran in accordance with international law.
On Wednesday morning, Kuwait summoned Iranian embassy representatives to enforce a reduction in their diplomatic presence, allowing two diplomats a 24-hour window to exit the country.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister dismissed the legitimacy of the attack on Kuwait, branding it as “baseless” and reasserted Iran’s right to self-defense against perceived threats.
A spokesperson from Kuwait’s health ministry noted that hospitals were on “full emergency alert” post-attack, with seven major surgeries performed on the injured by Wednesday morning.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) asserted that the strikes were in retaliation against U.S. actions targeting an Iranian oil tanker attempting to breach a blockade and a communications tower on Qeshm Island. They claimed their retaliatory operations included attacks on U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and air force bases, hinting at the strikes on Kuwait.
The Guards proclaimed that foreign military actions would provoke “decisive and expanded counterattacks,” asserting that new engagement rules have been set due to Iran’s military capabilities.
U.S. Central Command refuted claims of IRGC attacking their facilities, labeling all Iranian strikes against U.S. forces as unsuccessful.
In a separate statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of violating ceasefire agreements and international law with its actions against Iran, holding Kuwait and Bahrain accountable for allowing U.S. military operations from their territory.
Furthermore, it stressed that any country permitting such actions undermines international law and basic principles of neighborly relations.
On Wednesday, the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff declared that the U.S. and Israel would ultimately have to acquiesce to Iran’s resolve and military strength, reaffirming that Iran would not back down in the face of military threats.
