Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior affirmed on March 2, 2026, that the country’s military and security forces stand fully prepared to confront any hostile acts as repercussions from US and Israeli strikes on Iran ripple across the region. Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, in a Ministry of Interior statement, stressed that all state agencies continue to ensure uninterrupted operation of public facilities and round-the-clock services for citizens and residents. The statement also detailed new emergency guidelines from the Public Authority for Manpower aimed at protecting lives and property at work sites.
The Ministry of Interior statement listed the Kuwait Armed Forces, Police, Kuwait National Guard and Kuwait Fire Force as operating at full readiness in light of the regional developments. Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah called on citizens and residents to remain calm, adding that such crises remain temporary while challenges reinforce national unity, trust in leadership and faith. He urged the public to obtain information solely from official security authorities and to avoid spreading rumors or unverified reports on social media.
Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah warned that any effort to alarm the population or circulate false news would trigger legal accountability, with violations of laws or official decisions addressed firmly and without delay, according to the ministry statement. The minister’s remarks came days after US and Israeli forces launched nearly 900 strikes on February 28, 2026, targeting Iranian missile sites, air defenses and leadership including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a Britannica overview of the 2026 Iran war reported. Iranian retaliation with missiles and drones reached multiple Gulf locations, prompting heightened alerts across the bloc.
The Public Authority for Manpower directed employers and employees to halt all work immediately upon hearing warning sirens or receiving official alerts indicating danger at a site. For high-risk locations such as energy facilities and oil installations, the authority called for immediate coordination with Civil Defence while implementing approved evacuation plans that lead to designated assembly points or shelters. PAM guidelines explicitly prohibit elevator use during evacuations and require strict compliance with emergency exit instructions.
A Ministry of Interior civil defence guide explains that discontinuous siren tones signal possible danger or disaster while wavy sounds indicate an active event, advising the public to stay calm, monitor local media and follow Civil Defence directives. The PAM announcement stressed that these protocols apply across all work sites to safeguard both personnel and assets amid the uncertainty. Similar preparedness measures have continued in subsequent months, with Kuwait reporting no airspace threats over 24-hour periods as late as April 11, 2026, according to official updates cited by community information channels.
Kuwait’s Supreme Defense Council conducted reviews of security readiness in the initial weeks of the regional escalation, a Defaiya report from February 23, 2026, indicated. The broader conflict disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic fell more than 90 percent at points and contributed to global oil price spikes from around $70 to $103 per barrel in March, Britannica data showed. Kuwaiti authorities have sustained vigilance through coordinated civil and military efforts since those opening strikes.
