Kuwait’s General Staff said air defense systems engaged hostile aerial objects that entered the country’s airspace on July 13, 2026, with explosions heard across parts of the country resulting from mid-air interceptions. The military urged residents to follow safety instructions from competent authorities and remain calm. Kuwait News Agency distributed the statement, which confirmed successful interceptions without providing further details on the origin of the threats. This incident forms part of a series of aerial attacks that Gulf states have faced in recent months amid heightened regional tensions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks carried out by Iran and Iran-backed factions and militias based in Iraq, describing them as a flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a serious threat to the safety of citizens and residents. In its statement, the ministry said the strikes breached international legitimacy and violated UN Security Council Resolution 2817 adopted in March 2026, which had condemned earlier Iranian actions against Gulf states. The ministry stressed Kuwait’s right under international law and the UN Charter to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and stability, adding that the country’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity represented a red line. Iran International reported the ministry’s position that the attacks demonstrated a repeated hostile approach by Iran.
Strikes hit several northern border posts along with a Kuwait Oil Company offshore drilling platform, according to the Foreign Ministry’s assessment, which confirmed both casualties and material damage. The ministry’s account aligned with details shared through Kuwait News Agency on the scope of the assaults. Earlier in the week, Kuwait’s Defense Ministry had reported intercepting two ballistic missiles and 13 drones in a prior incident, figures that Gulf News cited as evidence of persistent threats. These events occur against the backdrop of the 2026 Iran conflict that has seen multiple rounds of missile and drone activity across the region.
The United Arab Emirates denounced the drone strike on Kuwait’s border posts and offshore platform in an official statement, calling it a blatant violation of sovereignty while reaffirming full solidarity with Kuwait. A separate UAE statement, distributed via the WAM news agency, condemned renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, pledging support for measures to safeguard security and stability. Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry issued a parallel condemnation of the continued Iranian attacks targeting its own territory as well as Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Jordan. The Bahraini statement described the actions as a dangerous escalation that violated international law, the UN Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.
Bahrain reaffirmed its solidarity with affected countries and backed their right to defend sovereignty under Article 51 of the UN Charter and the GCC Joint Defense Agreement, according to its Foreign Ministry. The ministry called on the international community and particularly the UN Security Council to take firm measures to deter further attacks and ensure accountability. Egypt similarly condemned the repeated Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan, terming them an unacceptable violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity that risked further destabilizing the region, as reported by multiple regional outlets including Anadolu Agency.
UN Security Council Resolution 2817, passed on March 11, 2026, with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions, had already condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and Jordan while demanding an immediate halt to such actions and support for proxy groups. The resolution, sponsored by Bahrain on behalf of the GCC and cosponsored by 135 countries, reiterated support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the targeted nations, according to UN documents. Kuwait’s latest response reflects ongoing efforts to address threats that have continued despite the resolution’s demands, with officials noting that diplomatic initiatives to reduce escalation remain undermined by persistent attacks.
