Kuwait has expelled two Iranian diplomats and reduced Tehran’s diplomatic presence in the country after missile and drone attacks struck civilian facilities, including Kuwait International Airport, officials said on Wednesday.
The strikes killed one Indian resident and injured 63 others, according to Kuwaiti authorities, while causing significant damage to parts of the airport and temporarily disrupting air traffic.
Kuwait’s defense ministry said air defense systems intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones that entered the country’s airspace during the early hours of Wednesday. Some debris reportedly fell in residential areas, while other projectiles struck strategic sites.
Authorities identified the victim as a 54-year-old Indian national who was at the airport preparing to travel to Mumbai when debris hit the terminal area. India condemned the attack and reiterated calls to avoid targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during regional conflicts.
Hospitals across Kuwait activated emergency response plans as medical teams treated injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to fractures and blast-related trauma. Officials said several patients underwent surgery while others remained under observation.
Operations at Kuwait International Airport were briefly suspended following the attack before flights gradually resumed after security inspections and technical assessments.
The latest developments prompted a sharp diplomatic response from Kuwait, which summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires and delivered an official protest note condemning what it described as repeated violations of Kuwaiti sovereignty.
Iranian authorities have not directly commented on Kuwait’s diplomatic measures, but Tehran previously said attacks in the Gulf were linked to escalating confrontation with the United States and regional military activity.
The incident has renewed fears of wider instability across the Gulf as tensions between Iran, Washington and regional allies continue to deepen.
