Kuwait’s armed forces intercepted three ballistic missiles, one cruise missile and 10 hostile drones in the country’s airspace early on July 9, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense. Ministry spokesman Colonel Saud Al-Atwan said the projectiles were neutralized before reaching their targets, though debris from the incident caused material damage and left one person injured in stable condition. The Kuwait Army remains on full readiness in response to the event, the defense ministry added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement strongly condemning the Iranian attacks, describing them as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional peace while violating Kuwait’s sovereignty, international law and the United Nations Charter. The ministry stressed that the recurrence of such attacks reflects a systematic aggressive approach, a flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and an undermining of efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region. It affirmed Kuwait’s full right to take all necessary measures to preserve its security and defend its territory and vital facilities in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
KUNA has documented multiple similar condemnations by Kuwaiti authorities since the start of 2026, including cabinet statements in February that reaffirmed the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and further expressions of rejection in April and June. Those earlier statements followed a pattern of reported Iranian-linked actions that Kuwait and other Gulf states described as aggressive. The latest incident coincides with heightened regional tensions, including reported US airstrikes on Iranian targets.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks on Kuwait in a statement that expressed full solidarity and called for United Nations action to address security threats in the Strait of Hormuz. Yemen’s government denounced the strikes on both Kuwait and Bahrain while extending support to Gulf states facing such violations. The responses underscore coordinated regional backing for Kuwait’s position.
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah discussed the regional developments in a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conversation reflects ongoing GCC coordination amid the exchanges between Iran and US-allied nations. US Central Command separately confirmed operations against multiple targets inside Iran, while Iranian state media reported strikes near sensitive facilities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reserved Kuwait’s right to protect its territory in the face of continued threats, a stance echoed in prior KUNA-reported cabinet positions that emphasized rejection of any use of Kuwaiti territory for aggression against neighbors. Regional monitors have tracked an increase in such cross-border incidents through the first half of 2026. Kuwait has consistently urged de-escalation to safeguard civilian lives and vital infrastructure.
