Iranian Suicide Drone Strikes Kuwait International Airport | WATCH
An Iranian Shahed-136 suicide drone has struck Kuwait International Airport, causing injuries and grounding all flights. The attack on Terminal 1 marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict into civilian infrastructure following "Operation Epic Fury."
Multiple reports confirm that Iranian suicide drones targeted Kuwait International Airport (KWI) today, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict by striking a major civilian aviation hub.
The attack resulted in minor injuries to several airport workers and limited material damage, with no reported fatalities.
This incident has prompted widespread flight suspensions and heightened alerts across the Gulf region, potentially altering the dynamics of the broader US-Iran confrontation.
Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority officially acknowledged the attack, stating that a drone—identified in reports as an Iranian Shahed-136 suicide drone—targeted Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of the airport.
The strike occurred amid Iran's retaliatory barrage following joint US-Israeli operations under "Operation Epic Fury," which targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites earlier that day.
Eyewitnesses and social media footage captured explosions and smoke at the airport, with videos showing a fireball and structural damage to passenger buildings.
Kuwait's Health Ministry reported that 12 individuals, primarily airport employees, sustained light injuries from the blast and debris.
The airport, a key commercial gateway handling millions of passengers annually, suffered material damage, including to runways and terminals, leading to an immediate suspension of all flights.
Kuwait Airways and other carriers announced temporary halts to operations in and out of the country.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has not explicitly claimed responsibility for the airport strike but has vowed "crushing" retaliation against US assets and allies in the region.
Analysts note that while primary targets have been military bases like Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, the airport hit represents a spillover into civilian infrastructure, raising concerns about indiscriminate targeting.
This incident is part of a wider Iranian response, with strikes reported on US facilities in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and other sites in Kuwait.
Air defenses in Kuwait and neighboring countries intercepted many projectiles, but the airport breach highlights vulnerabilities in civilian areas.
Major airlines, including Turkish Airlines, have suspended flights to multiple Gulf states, including Kuwait, until at least Monday.
Experts warn that targeting civilian airports could expand the conflict, potentially drawing in more regional actors and affecting global air travel and oil markets.
Kuwait's army described the attack as a "heinous Iranian aggression," while the US has not yet issued a specific response to this incident.
The reports stem from Kuwaiti official statements, eyewitness accounts, and circulating videos on platforms like X and Instagram.