A diplomatic row has erupted after Kuwait blamed Iran for a deadly airport strike, while Tehran insists the damage was caused by a malfunctioning US-made defence system.
Representational image: Fire burns at an impacted site following a missile strike in the Gulf region. (Reuters via ANI)
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied responsibility for the damage caused at Kuwait International Airport, claiming the destruction was linked to a malfunction in the American-made Patriot missile defence system and not the result of an Iranian strike.
The denial comes at a sensitive moment for the Gulf region, where a ceasefire that ended weeks of fighting involving Iran, the United States and its allies is facing renewed strain. The latest exchange has triggered fresh accusations, diplomatic protests and growing concern over the stability of the truce.
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Iran’s response followed sharp criticism from former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who accused Tehran of repeatedly targeting neighbouring Gulf states and questioned the rationale behind recent attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait.
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In a post on X, Al Thani described Iran’s actions as difficult to justify and suggested there were reasons to examine whether the operations had been planned well in advance. While reiterating Qatar’s interest in maintaining positive relations with Iran, he said Doha would not accept being “blackmailed” by Tehran.
The former Prime Minister also called on Gulf nations to present a united response, arguing that collective action would demonstrate that attacks on any member state would not weaken regional solidarity.
Iran, however, has maintained that its military actions are retaliatory measures against countries that allow the United States to launch operations against Iranian targets from their territory.
Gulf governments have rejected that explanation, accusing Tehran of using military pressure to influence regional leaders and push them to persuade US President Donald Trump to end the conflict.
The exchange of accusations intensified after Kuwaiti authorities reported casualties and damage at Kuwait International Airport following what they described as an Iranian attack. Officials said one person was killed and 63 others were injured.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said projectiles landed on sovereign territory and damaged diplomatic facilities, though it did not identify the embassies affected.
India also reacted to the incident. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the person killed was an Indian national and condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure.
“We again call on all parties to cease such attacks,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to Kuwaiti Defence Ministry spokesman Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan, around 30 ballistic missiles and drones were involved in what he called a “heinous Iranian aggression” that caused significant damage.
Kuwait’s state news agency reported that airport operations were temporarily suspended and incoming flights diverted after Terminal One sustained damage, and casualties were reported. Flight services have since resumed in phases, with Kuwait Airways restoring its normal schedule.
In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, the IRGC said its operation was aimed at military installations and not civilian infrastructure.
The force said it targeted Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain in response to what it described as aggression against Iran.
“In response to this aggression, the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts helicopters, as well as the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, were targeted with missiles and drones by the Guards’ forces,” the statement said.
Notably, the IRGC’s account did not mention Kuwait International Airport among its intended targets.
The US military said most of the incoming Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted before reaching their targets.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that two Iranian missiles launched towards Kuwait either fell short or broke apart before impact, while three missiles fired at Bahrain were intercepted by American and Bahraini air defence systems.
“All Iranian attacks on American forces failed,” CENTCOM later said in a post on X.
Bahraini authorities separately confirmed that air defence systems successfully intercepted three missiles and several drones during the attack.
The latest confrontation threatens to further destabilise a ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after more than a month of intense fighting triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran had earlier accused Kuwait and Bahrain of facilitating American military operations against Iranian targets, including an oil vessel and Qeshm Island.
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