Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation submitted its third formal complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization this week after the radar system at Kuwait International Airport was targeted in a fresh incident, officials said Thursday. The authority reported that the latest strike caused material damage but no casualties, continuing a pattern of airspace violations that began with an initial drone attack in March. The complaint urges the global aviation body to intervene and hold responsible parties accountable for endangering civil aviation in the region.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation detailed the sequence of events in its latest filing, which follows two prior protests lodged after earlier attacks. Spokesperson Abdullah Al-Rajhi told local media that the March incident involved multiple drones striking the radar infrastructure, prompting immediate activation of emergency protocols. The authority restored operations swiftly despite significant damage to the equipment, according to its initial assessment shared with the Kuwait News Agency.
A second major strike occurred on June 3, hitting Terminal 1 and resulting in one fatality along with multiple injuries, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported. Video footage released by the authority captured the drone impact on the terminal roof, followed by an explosion that caused structural collapse and fire. That event led to temporary suspension of flights and the filing of the second ICAO complaint days later, with officials accusing external actors of breaching Kuwaiti sovereignty.
The latest radar targeting prompted renewed diplomatic action through the ICAO, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in its statement. Al-Rajhi confirmed that the incident was managed under the standing emergency plan established amid the regional crisis. No details on the precise timing of the most recent attack were disclosed beyond its occurrence this month.
Kuwait has accused Iran of involvement in the series of drone operations, a claim rejected by Iranian officials who have attributed some damage to other causes such as malfunctioning missile systems. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation released surveillance data from multiple airport systems, including radar and cameras, to support its position in the complaints. Regional aviation authorities have noted increased incidents of unauthorized aerial activity near civilian facilities since early 2026.
Figures from the International Civil Aviation Organization indicate a spike in reported airspace violations across the Middle East over the past six months. The specialized United Nations agency has acknowledged receipt of Kuwait’s prior submissions and called for de-escalation to protect international air routes. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has coordinated with neighboring states on enhanced monitoring protocols following each event.
Repairs to the radar system were completed between the March and June incidents, according to maintenance records provided by the authority. The latest complaint reiterates demands for stronger international safeguards against threats to airport infrastructure. Officials emphasized that sustained violations could disrupt passenger traffic and commercial aviation links vital to the Kuwaiti economy.
