Iran strikes Kuwait’s main airport and kills 1 as ceasefire is tested again

Kuwait International Airport was briefly shut after Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal, killing one Indian national and injuring 63 people, including passengers and workers. The attack occurred just days after the airport reopened following a months-long closure due to the ongoing conflict, which began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Kuwait’s Defense Ministry confirmed the use of hostile drones and reported destroying over a dozen missiles and drones from Iran. The U.S. military stated that two Iranian missiles disintegrated en route to Kuwait while American forces downed multiple drones targeting U.S. personnel in the country. Bahrain’s Defense Ministry also intercepted and destroyed three missiles and several drones fired by Iran, aimed at the Gulf kingdom, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard acknowledged targeting the 5th Fleet headquarters and U.S. military facilities but did not name Kuwait. The escalation follows reports that Iran has stopped communicating with ceasefire mediators, citing the need for a separate truce in Lebanon before resuming talks. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed claims of a cessation in negotiations, asserting that discussions were ongoing despite rising tensions. Meanwhile, the U.S. military conducted strikes on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran condemned as acts of aggression. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry reserved the right to respond to Iran, emphasizing that such attacks would not be tolerated. The airport partially reopened later, with Kuwait Airways flights resuming at a different terminal, though no other flights were operating at the time. A senior Emirati diplomat called for a unified Gulf stance against Iran, framing the aggression as a threat to the entire region. The conflict has intensified global fuel prices, as Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway for oil and gas shipments—while the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports. The back-and-forth strikes between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have further strained the fragile ceasefire, with regional officials warning of broader destabilization.