A new video appears to show an Iranian drone striking Kuwait International Airport. The footage, circulating on social media, has sent shockwaves through Whitehall. The Prime Minister has summoned an emergency cabinet meeting. Sources say the mood is grim. This is not a drill. The Gulf is on fire.
The drone strike, if confirmed, would mark a dramatic escalation. Iran has been flexing its muscles across the region. But hitting Kuwait? That is a red line. The UK has a military base in Kuwait. Hundreds of British troops are stationed there.
Inside the room, expect fury. The Foreign Secretary will push for a hardline response. Sanctions. Perhaps even military action. But the Treasury will be nervous. Oil prices will spike. The cost of living crisis just got worse.
Labour is watching closely. Keir Starmer will demand a Commons statement. He cannot afford to look weak on national security. But he also cannot be seen as a warmonger. A delicate balance.
The video itself is grainy. But the source is reliable. Intelligence agencies are scrambling to verify the details. If real, this is the most serious incident in the Gulf since 2019.
Downing Street is tight-lipped. No official comment yet. But off the record, officials are briefing that 'all options are on the table.' Classic Whitehall code for 'we are terrified.'
The PM is due to speak to the US President within the hour. Expect a coordinated response. NATO is being briefed. The UN Security Council will meet tomorrow.
But here is the real question: Does Iran want a war? Or is this a provocation from hardliners? The regime is under pressure. Sanctions, protests, isolation. A distraction is tempting.
For now, the focus is on Kuwait. The airport is closed. Flights diverted. British nationals are being advised to stay indoors. The embassy has gone to lockdown.
This story is moving fast. Every hour brings new details. I will be here in the lobby, watching the doors, listening to the whispers. The game has changed.
Eleanor Rigby, Political Bureau Chief
