ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kuwait said Thursday its forces were engaging "missile and drone threats" originating from Iran, as Tehran's state media also confirmed the assault, framing it as part of the broader regional escalation with Washington that has heightened since Sunday.
"Kuwait's air defenses are currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks following Iran's criminal aggression," the Kuwaiti Army's General Staff said in a statement on X.
It added that “any explosion sounds heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks" and urging residents to “comply with safety instructions issued by the competent authorities.”
Iran's state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Thursday confirmed the attacks, saying they targeted "US bases in Kuwait" and were "in response to America's crimes against the Iranian people."
A day earlier, Kuwait said its air defenses were "intercepting hostile drone attacks" from Iran.
The Kuwaiti foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned what it called Iran's "criminal aggression involving hostile missiles and drones, which targeted a number of sites across the country … including a residential compound.”
The ministry described the assault as a “flagrant violation of Kuwait's sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability," a "serious breach of international law," and a "dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability while undermining diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and restraint."
Kuwait further affirmed its "full right to take all necessary measures to preserve its sovereignty, protect its security and interests, and ensure the safety of its people and residents on its territory."
While no side has claimed the Thursday incident, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday that it conducted "a combined missile and drone strike" against the headquarters and residential quarters of the American commander at the Ali al-Salem Base in Kuwait, “killing a number of enemy personnel.”
The incident comes after Tehran and Washington late Wednesday exchanged sharp warnings following the most intense round of escalation the two sides have seen in weeks.
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