DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Kuwait temporarily closed its main airport on Wednesday after Iranian drones caused significant damage to a passenger terminal, resulting in one death and numerous injuries. This incident marks the latest in a series of retaliatory attacks between Iran and the United States, raising concerns about the stability of a fragile ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict, now in its fourth month, has heightened risks for residents and travelers in Gulf countries that previously viewed themselves as relatively safe. Efforts to negotiate a more lasting truce in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran have been ongoing, but have faced additional strain due to Israel's expanding military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
A regional official indicated that Iran is seeking a separate ceasefire in Lebanon before resuming negotiations. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that discussions are still taking place.
Iran continues to control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and natural gas supplies, while the U.S. maintains a blockade on Iranian ports. The conflict's impact is felt globally, contributing to elevated fuel prices.
The Iranian drone attack at Kuwait International Airport, which had just reopened after a prolonged closure, led to the death of an Indian national and injuries to 63 others, some of whom sustained serious injuries. Kuwait's Defense Ministry reported that it intercepted multiple missiles and drones launched from Iran, and the Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, asserting the right to respond.
In response to the ongoing hostilities, the U.S. military reported that it intercepted Iranian missiles targeting American forces in Kuwait and conducted strikes on an Iranian military facility on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned these U.S. strikes as violations of the ceasefire.
A senior Emirati diplomat called for a unified Gulf response to Iran's actions, emphasizing that the aggression affects all Gulf states. Reports from Iranian news agencies suggested that Iran's negotiators have ceased communication with ceasefire mediators amid rising tensions in Lebanon.
Trump dismissed claims of halted negotiations as false, asserting that discussions have been ongoing. The conflict has increasingly intertwined with Israel's military operations in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have advanced deeper than in recent decades, while Hezbollah has responded with attacks.
Despite the declared ceasefire in Lebanon, fighting continues, and Iran insists that any broader truce must address the situation there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to act against Hezbollah, complicating the peace process. Trump acknowledged tensions with Netanyahu over the situation but affirmed their strong working relationship.