TREACHEROUS ATTACK | Kuwait Times Newspaper

KUWAIT: An Indian national was killed and 63 people were injured on Wednesday after Iranian drones and missiles targeted Kuwait International Airport and other civilian facilities across the country. The attack, which caused extensive damage to Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport, prompted a temporary suspension of air traffic, triggered emergency response plans across government agencies and led to a series of diplomatic and security measures by Kuwaiti authorities.

The attacks drew immediate expressions of support from the region and around the world. Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa telephoned HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to condemn the strikes and reaffirm Bahrain’s solidarity with Kuwait. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also contacted the Crown Prince, condemning the attacks and expressing full support for measures taken by Kuwait to safeguard its sovereignty and security.

The defense ministry said Kuwaiti armed forces detected and intercepted 13 hostile ballistic missiles and 17 hostile drones that entered the country’s airspace during the early hours of Wednesday. Several of the missiles were destroyed over residential areas, resulting in falling debris and shrapnel in various locations, while a number of drones struck civilian and strategic facilities, including the country’s main airport.

Defense Ministry Spokesman Col Saud Al-Atwan described the assault as a “criminal Iranian aggression” targeting Kuwait’s sovereignty and civilian infrastructure. He said the attack resulted in the death of one resident, injuries to dozens of people and significant material damage to key facilities.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hamad Al-Mashaan summons Iranian Chargé d’Affaires Hamed Hamid Yaqoubi Far.

Defense Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah visits injured victims.

Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi and Farwaniya Governor Sheikh Athbi Al-Sabah visit injured victims at Farwaniya Hospital.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah inspects damage at T1.

Interior Ministry Undersecretary Maj Gen Abdulwahab Al-Wuhaib inspects damage at T1.

Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi visits injured victims at Jaber Hospital.

Indian resident Manzoor Ahmed Rehman was killed in the Iranian attack on Kuwait International Airport.

Indian passenger killed

The victim was identified as Manzoor Ahmed Rehman, a 54-year-old Indian resident of Kuwait from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Rahman had arrived at Terminal 1 to board a flight to Mumbai via Bahrain when debris from the attack struck the terminal area. The Embassy of India in Kuwait confirmed the death and expressed its condolences to his family. “The Embassy is in touch with the bereaved family and is closely coordinating with the Kuwaiti authorities to render all possible support and assistance to the bereaved family as well as those injured in the incident,” the mission said. The embassy is also working with Kuwaiti authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the victim’s remains to India.

New Delhi strongly condemned the attack, reiterating its longstanding position that civilian populations and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted during armed conflicts. In an official statement, India said it deeply regretted the loss of life and called upon all parties involved in the regional conflict to cease attacks that endanger civilians.

“Since the onset of the conflict in West Asia, we have strongly urged that civilian population and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted. We again call upon parties to cease such attacks,” the statement said. Indian authorities added that diplomatic missions throughout the region remain on alert and continue to assist Indian nationals affected by the deteriorating security situation.

7 undergo major surgery

The health ministry said hospitals across Kuwait received 63 injured individuals within hours of the attack. Health Ministry Spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said emergency plans were activated immediately after reports of the strike were received. Ambulance teams and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the airport to conduct rapid triage operations and transport casualties to hospitals according to the severity of their injuries.

Of the injured, 34 were admitted to Farwaniya Hospital, 17 to Jaber Hospital, five to Jahra Hospital, three to Adan Hospital, two to Amiri Hospital and one patient each to Sabah Hospital and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital. Seven patients underwent emergency major surgical procedures, while others required specialized treatment and minor operations.

Dr Al-Sanad said the injuries ranged from shrapnel wounds and blast-related trauma to fractures, head injuries, brain hemorrhages, amputations and smoke inhalation. Several patients remain under intensive observation, while medical teams continue to provide advanced care and monitor their recovery. The ministry subsequently appealed to the public to donate blood in support of strategic national reserves and to ensure hospitals maintain sufficient supplies to meet potential future needs.

Airport operations disrupted

The strike caused extensive damage to parts of Terminal 1, forcing the Public Authority for Civil Aviation to activate emergency protocols and temporarily suspend operations at Kuwait International Airport. Authorities initially halted all departures and arrivals and diverted inbound flights to alternative airports while technical and security teams assessed the extent of the damage.

Following inspections and technical assessments, authorities gradually resumed airport operations. Kuwait Airways restarted scheduled services through Terminal 4, while Jazeera Airways resumed operations from Terminal 5 after receiving the necessary security clearances.

Officials emphasized that safety remains the top priority and advised travelers to contact airlines directly for updated flight information and scheduling changes. Kuwait Airways said passengers whose travel plans were affected by the disruption would be permitted to change or cancel reservations without penalty. Jazeera Airways likewise warned that some delays and cancellations could continue due to the evolving regional security situation.

Govt mobilizes response

Senior government officials visited the airport and hospitals throughout the day to assess the situation and oversee response efforts. HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah toured Terminal 1 alongside Civil Aviation Director General Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. During the visit, officials briefed him on the circumstances surrounding the fatality, the injuries sustained by victims and the extent of damage to airport facilities.

HH the Prime Minister directed authorities to begin repair and rehabilitation work immediately and stressed the importance of restoring the terminal’s operational capacity as quickly as possible while maintaining safety standards. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah also conducted an inspection of the damaged facility, reviewing the impact on airport infrastructure and discussing recovery plans with officials.

Defense Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah visited injured victims receiving treatment in hospital, where he received updates from medical teams and wished patients a speedy recovery. Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi separately visited Farwaniya and Jaber hospitals to review treatment efforts and assess the condition of the injured.

Diplomatic fallout

The attack prompted a strong diplomatic response from Kuwait. The foreign ministry summoned Iranian Chargé d’Affaires Hamed Hamid Yaqoubi Far and delivered an official protest note condemning the repeated Iranian attacks against Kuwaiti territory. Deputy Foreign Minister Hamad Al-Mashaan announced that Kuwait had decided to reduce the size of the Iranian diplomatic mission in the country and declare two Iranian diplomats persona non grata. The diplomats were ordered to leave Kuwait within 24 hours.

The ministry said the latest attacks represented a serious violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, international law and the United Nations Charter. Officials rejected Iranian claims attempting to justify the attacks and reiterated that Kuwait neither permits nor supports the use of its territory or airspace for military operations against any state. The ministry emphasized Kuwait’s inherent right under international law to defend itself and take all necessary measures to protect its citizens, residents and national interests.

Public safety warnings

As security forces continued operations across the country, authorities repeatedly urged citizens and residents to avoid damaged locations and refrain from approaching or handling debris resulting from missile interceptions. Interior Ministry Spokesman Brig Nasser Buslaib said emergency sirens had sounded five times during the latest attacks, bringing the total number of activations since the conflict began to 188. He said bomb disposal teams and emergency crews had responded to 36 new reports involving falling debris and unidentified objects linked to interception operations.

The total number of such reports handled since the beginning of the conflict has now reached 975. Kuwait Fire Force reported responding to nine incidents related to falling debris, including four fires and five precautionary deployments to secure affected areas. Authorities warned that debris may still contain explosive materials and urged the public to immediately report suspicious objects through the emergency hotline 112.

The interior ministry also announced the arrest of an individual who filmed and published footage of air defense operations on social media. Officials said the person additionally caused a traffic accident while using a mobile phone to record the events. The ministry stressed that publishing images or videos showing military sites, defensive operations or security deployments constitutes a threat to public safety and national security and would be dealt with firmly. — Agencies