A devastating Iranian drone attack on Kuwait International Airport has left one person dead and at least 30 wounded, sources in the Gulf state confirm. The strike, which occurred shortly before dawn local time, targeted a military hangar adjacent to the civilian terminal. Witnesses described a series of explosions followed by a plume of black smoke visible for miles.
Intelligence officials in the region have linked the attack to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marking a dramatic escalation in Tehran's proxy war against Gulf states. "This is not a miscalculation. This is a deliberate act of war," a senior Kuwaiti security official told this reporter, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official declined to specify whether the drone was launched from Iranian soil or a proxy base in Iraq.
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires, demanding an immediate explanation. In a statement, the ministry condemned what it called a "flagrant violation of international law and Kuwait's sovereignty." Emergency services rushed to the scene, with hospitals in Kuwait City put on high alert. The dead victim has been identified as a maintenance worker at the airport; his family has been notified.
The attack raises troubling questions about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the Gulf. Iran has long boasted of its drone capabilities, deploying them against Saudi oil facilities in 2019. Now Kuwait joins the list of targets. "This is the new battlefield," said a former CIA station chief in the region. "Drones are cheap, hard to detect, and can strike at will. The Gulf states are sitting ducks."
As investigators sift through the wreckage, traces of Iranian-manufactured components have been found, according to a source familiar with the forensic report. The drone appeared to be a Shahed-136, a loitering munition previously used by Russia in Ukraine. The IRGC has not claimed responsibility, though state media in Tehran has downplayed the incident, blaming "anti-Iranian elements."
Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has convened an emergency cabinet meeting. Options on the table include a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council and a potential retaliatory strike. The United States, which maintains a significant military presence in Kuwait, has offered assistance. A Pentagon spokesman said, "We stand with our Kuwaiti partners and are monitoring the situation closely."
But for those on the ground, the damage is done. Panic spread through the terminal as passengers scrambled for cover. Flights have been suspended indefinitely. The airport, a vital hub for the region, now looks like a war zone. "I heard the explosion and saw the fireball," said Ahmed al-Rashid, a taxi driver who was dropping off a passenger. "People were running, screaming. I thought it was the end."
The strike has shattered the relative calm that Kuwait has enjoyed since the end of the Gulf War. It underscores Iran's willingness to project power beyond its borders, even as it faces internal unrest and crippling sanctions. For the Gulf monarchies, the message is clear: nowhere is safe.
As the story develops, one thing is certain. The money trail and the political calculus will be scrutinised. This journalist will be watching every move.
