The General Administration of Customs reported that Director General Yousef Khaled Al-Nuwaif toured the Abdali border crossing on July 23, 2026, to evaluate conditions after the drone strike. Accompanied by Deputy Director General for Ports, Search and Customs Investigation Saleh Mohammed Al-Omar, Al-Nuwaif examined the damaged customs center while field officials provided a briefing on the attack’s impact and the steps taken to address it. Al-Nuwaif praised customs personnel for sustaining their duties and keeping operations flowing smoothly under the difficult circumstances. The director general underscored that the authority maintains full functionality at every border port through coordinated efforts with other agencies to protect security and deliver uninterrupted services.
According to the General Administration of Customs, Al-Nuwaif highlighted the commitment to implementing all required measures that safeguard port integrity and service continuity across the network. These actions build on immediate responses already in place at the Abdali facility to restore normal activity as quickly as possible. The inspection served to gather firsthand information that will guide further adjustments to procedures at the site and similar locations.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense announced that hostile drones targeted the Abdali crossing with Iraq during the afternoon of July 23, 2026, producing material damage without any human casualties. Ministry spokesman Colonel Saud Al-Atwan stated that response teams deployed immediately to secure the area and begin clearance operations. Explosive ordnance disposal specialists from the ground forces surveyed the location, removed drone remnants and confirmed the absence of additional hazards in line with standard technical protocols.
The Ministry of Defense indicated that the Abdali terminal functions as the country’s primary land gateway for passenger travel and commercial shipments to and from Iraq. Defense figures show the crossing handles substantial daily volumes that support bilateral trade flows between the two nations. Coordinated work among the ministry, the General Administration of Customs and additional relevant bodies has focused on minimizing downtime while strengthening protective arrangements at the facility.
A statement from the General Administration of Customs noted that operations persist without interruption at all entry points despite the incident at Abdali. Al-Nuwaif received updates during his visit that covered both the scale of physical destruction and the effectiveness of initial countermeasures enacted by on-site teams. The director general’s assessment will contribute to decisions on repair schedules and any further enhancements to security measures at border installations nationwide.
The Ministry of Defense reported that its specialists continue to monitor the situation at the crossing in close partnership with customs officials. No additional threats have emerged since the initial response concluded earlier on July 23, 2026. This unified approach between the two authorities ensures that both security requirements and commercial needs receive balanced attention at the strategically important Abdali location.
