A single fatality occurred alongside numerous injuries at the Kuwaiti international airport's premises. Iran's capital city has officially dismissed involvement in the incident.
A deadly missile attack by Iranian forces caught Kuwait off guard on Wednesday, leaving a civilian dead and numerous others injured at the country's international airport. The assault marked one of Iran's most significant military operations to date, with far-reaching implications for regional stability. It was also the first reported fatality in a Gulf nation since April's ceasefire took hold.
Related ↗Soldier under investigation for fatal shooting by Israeli military police.Tensions in the region have escalated as indirect peace negotiations between Iran and the United States remain stalled without a breakthrough. According to an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps spokesperson, their forces did not intentionally target the airport, instead attributing the damage to malfunctioning U.S.-launched Patriot missile interceptors that inadvertently struck the building.
The U.S. Central Command has dismissed allegations of involvement, attributing the assault on Kuwait's airport to deliberate Iranian action via drone strikes, labeling it a "calculated and unjustified attack". Kuwait confirms its airport was targeted by an Iranian drone.
Read next ↗President Trump vows to urge restraint from Israel in response to Iranian retaliation.Footage authenticated by The captures chaotic scenes as individuals flee from flames engulfing Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport, where a significant breach has occurred in the roof's structure. Authorities in Kuwait confirm that one Indian national lost his life and at least 63 others were left injured among travelers and airport staff.
Kuwait is caught off guard by an unexpected assault from Iranian forces. According to Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, these strikes are justified as self-defense measures against US military bases used for launching attacks. The US has maintained a presence in Kuwait's airport complex over recent years, with one such site possibly being the intended target of this surprise operation.
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally notified Tehran that its territory or airspace will not be used for any hostile actions against another nation. Following Wednesday's surprise attack, Kuwait took swift action by recalling the interim chargé d'affaires from the Iranian Embassy to convey a formal complaint. In response to this egregious incident, Kuwait has also expelled two Iranian diplomats, requiring them to depart within 24 hours.
Kuwait's energy infrastructure was targeted by Iranian forces, part of a broader campaign against Gulf nations' major facilities, including ports and hotels. This assault, which included 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones, caught the country off guard on Wednesday.
Iran's aggression extended beyond Kuwait, with reported missile and drone attacks on Bahrain, a key US ally in the region, also targeting civilian vessels in adjacent waters without causing damage.
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed responsibility for attacks on US Fifth Fleet's headquarters in Bahrain and a US naval ship, citing retaliatory measures against previous US strikes on an Iranian vessel and military installations. Intercepted by Bahrain's military were three incoming Iranian missiles and multiple drones.
President Trump's remarks sparked controversy after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, where he allegedly referred to the Israeli leader as "crazy" and employed profanity to convey his discontent with the military's actions in Lebanon on Monday.
A surprise assault by Iranian forces has caught Kuwait off guard, while the ongoing Israeli offensive against Hezbollah may be exacerbating tensions between Washington and Tehran over their long-standing conflict.
Mr. Trump expressed concern about a specific pattern of behavior exhibited by someone he was familiar with. This individual's frequent clashes with Lebanon had left Mr. Trump somewhat uneasy. Meanwhile, Israel carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least six individuals near Tyre, Lebanon, according to local reports from the state-run news agency.
Despite some tension in their partnership, President Trump expressed admiration for his working relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister, acknowledging that certain objectives, like dismantling Iran's nuclear project and neutralizing its ballistic missiles, remain unfulfilled.
Mr. Trump praised their collaborative efforts publicly yesterday.
In a recent CNBC interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed differing views on tactics with US President Donald Trump, yet maintained confidence in their partnership's stability. Despite morning disagreements, he noted, they often find common ground by day's end.
In a recent conversation with The Post, Mr. Trump hinted that he might consider a meeting with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly suffered injuries during early U.S.-Israeli strikes and hasn't made a public appearance in several months.
The US President expressed interest in a meeting with Iran's leader, but there is no confirmation on whether such an encounter will take place. Iranian authorities have yet to respond to the proposal, leaving uncertainty about the ayatollah's willingness to engage with Mr. Trump.
Tensions between American and Iranian forces persist despite a declared ceasefire, with neither side halting their military actions as they claim to be protecting themselves from perceived threats.
Wednesday morning saw a sudden escalation in hostilities as US Central Command confirmed "self-defense strikes" against an Iranian military facility on Qeshm Island, located just off Iran's coastline.
A barrage of Iranian drones, targeting US military assets, reportedly missed their marks with none of the American personnel involved sustaining injuries during a surprise assault on US forces stationed in Kuwait.
In a congressional hearing on Wednesday, Secretary Marco Rubio emphasized that US airstrikes against Iran were purely defensive measures designed to safeguard vessels navigating the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global crude oil and natural gas exports.
The U.S. military operation against Iran has reached its end, according to statements made by both Mr. Rubio and Mr. Trump.
The reporting team consisted of Edward Wong, Max Bearak, Jonathan Reiss and Euan Ward.
