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Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war

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Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war
Part of the 2026 Iran war
Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war is located in Kuwait
Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war
Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war
Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war
Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war
Kuwait in the 2026 Iran war (Kuwait)
Date28 February 2026 – present
Location
Kuwait
Status
  • 3 American F-15Es shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire incident.
  • US and Italian military installations attacked in Kuwait.
  • Canadian military base damaged during the strikes.
Belligerents
Iran Kuwait
United States
Italy
Canada
Strength
Undisclosed United States 13,000 servicemen
Italy 100 soldiers[1]
Casualties and losses
  • Per Kuwait:
    •  Iran:
    • 97 ballistic missiles and 283 drones shot down[2]
  • Per Kuwait and allies:
    •  Kuwait:
    • 4 servicemembers killed, 77 wounded[a]
    •  United States:
    • 7 soldiers killed, dozens wounded[3][4][5]
      3 F-15Es shot down (friendly fire)
      1 CH-47 Chinook helicopter destroyed
    •  Italy:
    • No human casualties[6]
      1 MQ-9 Reaper drone destroyed and 2 Eurofighter Typhoon damaged[7][1]
    •  Canada:
    • None[8]
6 civilians killed, 38 civilians injured in Kuwait[a]

On 28 February 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, Iran began launching a series of retaliatory strikes on American and Kuwaiti targets within Kuwait.

Incidents

External videos
YouTube logo
video icon CCTV Captures Moment Kuwait International Airport Hit By Iranian Strike
video icon Iranian Drone Strikes Kuwait International Airport
video icon Iranian drone strikes US military facility in Kuwait
video icon Smoke rises after Iranian strike on military base in Kuwait

28 February

An Iranian drone struck Kuwait International Airport[9] and the Ali Al Salem Air Base (which houses Italian forces).[10]

March 1

An Iranian drone struck the US garrison at Camp Buehring in northeastern Kuwait.[11] Later press research from late April 2026 revealed that an Iranian air force fighter jet, a Northrop F-5, had penetrated the multi layered defences of Camp Buehring and conducted a successful bombing run.[12]

Another Iranian missile attack targeted a makeshift operation center near the civilian port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. Six US soldiers were killed[4] and dozens were wounded, of those 38 were hospitalized in various medical centers.[13]

March 2

Two Navy servicemen from Kuwait were killed in the line of duty, according to Kuwaiti officials.[14]

An F/A-18 of the Kuwait Air Force shot down three American F-15Es in a friendly fire incident. The American crew members survived. The United States embassy in Kuwait was likely hit by an Iranian missile strike.[15][16][17]

The Camp Canada military base located within the Ali Al Salem Air Base was struck by Iranian missiles. During the attack, Canadian soldiers took shelter inside bunkers and suffered no casualties. Satellite images showed that Canadian bunkers had been damaged during the attack. Information regarding the attack was made public on 12 March 2026.[8] The Canadian government is facing criticism for not being transparent about the attack.[18]

March 6

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense reported that 67 Kuwaiti servicemembers had been wounded during the conflict.[19]

March 9

The Interior Ministry of Kuwait reported the deaths of two border guards during an incident at dawn.[20] Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, said his country is facing an unprovoked attack from a neighboring Muslim country "which we consider a friend, and to which we did not allow the use of our land, airspace, or waters for any military action against it."[21]

March 10–11

Kuwait said it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones overnight.[22]

March 12

Kuwait's electricity ministry said that debris from Iranian drones put six power lines out of service.[23]

March 15

In the afternoon, the Italian garrison at Ali Al Salem Air Base was struck by an Iranian drone and missiles. The attack destroyed a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper combat drone belonging to the Italian Army.[24][7] Also two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons were damaged in the ground by shrapnel and remained unoperational.[1] No personnel were injured in the attack.[25]

March 17

Two minor injuries were reported as a result of falling shrapnel from the missile and drone interceptions.[26]

March 19

A drone hit the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, causing a small fire. No injuries were reported.[27][28]

March 20

Kuwait reported that its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit again by an Iranian attack.[29]

March 23

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a video supposedly showing that they were sending missiles and drones at a US base in Kuwait.[30]

March 24

Iranian drones struck a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, starting a fire. Damage but no casualty were reported.[31]

March 28

Several drones were aimed at Kuwait International Airport. No injuries were reported, but the strikes caused "significant" damage to the radar system at the airport.[32]

March 29

Kuwait's National Guard shot down four drones.[33] The defense ministry said that 10 soldiers were injured by ballistic missiles and drones that hit a military camp.[34]

March 30

The Kuwaiti National Guard said that it shot down five drones.[35] An Indian worker was killed after an Iranian strike on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait.[36][37] Another Indian worker in Kuwait was killed by falling Iranian missile debris.[38]

March 31

The Kuwaiti oil tanker Al Salmi was attacked by an Iranian drone, causing damage to its hull. According to the report no sailors were injured, but there is fear of oil spill and fires.[39][40]

April 3

Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy reported that Iranian drones have struck its power and desalination plant, causing damage to the structure.[41] A drone hit the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, causing several fires and damage, but no injuries.[42][43]

An Iranian drone destroyed a US Army Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter on the ground in Kuwait.[44][45]

April 5

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) confirmed they were attacked by Iranian drones. According to the reports the attacks caused fires to several facilities causing severe damage. No casualties were reported.[46][47]

April 6

Six people were injured by debris from an Iranian attack.[48]

Fifteen Americans were wounded in an overnight Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base.[49]

April 8

Despite the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, Kuwait air defense reported that it has intercepted waves of Iranian drones targeting vital facilities, power ⁠stations and water desalination plants, ⁠causing major infrastructure ⁠damage.[50][51]

April 9

Drones attacked vital infrastructure in Kuwait, prompting the country to respond by fending them off.[52][53]

May 1

On 1 May 2026, Iran dispatched six armed members of the IRGC to Bubiyan Island in Kuwait. The IRGC and Kuwait Armed Forces exchanged fire, resulting in the injury of one Kuwaiti soldier. Four of the IRGC fighters were captured, while the remainder fled. Kuwait accused Iran of the attack on 12 May.[54][55]

According to The Wall Street Journal, Kuwait launched attacks on Iranian-backed Iraqi militias from its own territory. Iraqi officials reported that there were at least two rocket attacks from Kuwaiti territory in April.[56]

Casualties

In the strikes against Kuwait, four soldiers and six civilians were killed while 77 soldiers and 38 civilians were injured.[a]

Reactions

On 26 March, Kuwait along with other five Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan) issued a joint condemnation about Iran and its affiliated armed groups in Iraq, attacks against countries in the region and their facilities and infrastructure.[61]

On 11 April, Kuwait announced that it arrested 24 people in a plot to undermine national security, with some of the actors connected to Iran.[62] Also on 11 April, Saudi Arabia condemned Iranian drone attacks on Kuwait.[63]

On 20 April, the US urged a defense contractor to evacuate its workers from Kuwait out of fear of attacks from Iran-backed militias.[64]

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b c "Chiusi nei bunker e senza missione. I militari italiani isolati in Kuwait" (in Italian). 18 March 2026. Archived from the original on 19 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Kuwait reports interception of 97 Iranian ballistic missiles, 283 drones". KUNA. 1 March 2026.
  3. ^ "15 Americans injured in Iranian attack on Kuwaiti air base". CBS News. 6 April 2026. An Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait overnight injured 15 Americans, two U.S. officials told CBS News.
  4. ^ a b "No warning, no siren: Six US service members killed in Iranian strike that hit makeshift operations center in Kuwait". CNN. 3 March 2025. Archived from the original on 12 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  5. ^ "NYPD officer deployed to Kuwait with National Guard dies after suffering medical episode". CBS News. 9 March 2026. Archived from the original on 8 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Attacco con un drone a base italiana in Kuwait, nessun ferito". Archived from the original on 2026-03-15. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
  7. ^ a b Carli, Andrea (2026-03-15). "Attacco con un drone a base italiana in Kuwait, nessun ferito. Tajani: «Non ci faremo intimorire»" [A drone attack on an Italian base in Kuwait left no one injured. Tajani: "We won't be intimidated."]. Il Sole 24 ORE (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2026-03-15. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
  8. ^ a b "Canadian military instillation in Kuwait hit by Iranian missiles". Western Standard. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Drone Attack Causes Damage, Panic at Kuwait Airport". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Iran targets US military bases in the Middle East with retaliatory strikes". France 24. 2026-02-28. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Iranian drone strikes US military facility in Kuwait". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2026-03-01. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  12. ^ "Iran caused more extensive damage to U.S. military bases than publicly known". nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2026-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Dozens of U.S. service members in Kuwait suffered serious injuries, including burns, brain trauma and shrapnel wounds, sources say". CBS. 11 March 2026. Archived from the original on 16 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Kuwait says two navy soldiers killed". Reuters. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  15. ^ Ambrose, Tom; Lowe, Yohannes; Fulton, Adam (2026-03-02). "Middle East crisis live: Israel launches new attacks on 'heart of Tehran'; US fighter planes mistakenly shot down in Kuwait". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  16. ^ "Kuwait shoots down US jets: All about F/A-18 Hornet that accidentally shot down F-15s amid Iran tensions". Hindustan Times. 2026-03-04. Archived from the original on 2026-03-07. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  17. ^ Lara Seligman; Marcus Weisgerber; Shelby Holliday (2026-03-04). "Exclusive: Kuwaiti Jet Fighter Mistakenly Downed U.S. F-15s, Initial Reports Say". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2026-03-04. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  18. ^ "Canadian government grilled for secrecy over Kuwait airbase attack". Iran International. 2026-03-13. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
  19. ^ a b "Kuwait says 67 soldiers injured 'amid recent security developments' on Thursday". Amrah Online. 6 March 2026.
  20. ^ a b "Two Kuwaiti border security personnel killed". Al Jazeera English. 8 March 2026.
  21. ^ "Kuwait's Emir: We are facing an attack from a neighboring country despite not allowing use of our land". LBCIV7. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  22. ^ "Persian Gulf Arab states intercept Iran missiles and drones". Iran International. 2026-03-11. Archived from the original on 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  23. ^ "Kuwait says drone debris knocks out six power lines". Iran International. 2026-03-12. Archived from the original on 2026-04-09. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  24. ^ "Incident General Atomics MQ-9A Predator B ?, Sunday 15 March 2026". aviation-safety.net. Archived from the original on 2026-03-16. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
  25. ^ "Attacco con un drone a una base italiana in Kuwait, nessun ferito". ANSA (in Italian). 15 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Kuwait says drones and missiles intercepted but two people suffered minor injuries". BBC News. 2026-03-17. Archived from the original on 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  27. ^ "Drone hit Kuwait refinery unit causing limited fire, no injuries". Iran International. 2026-03-19. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  28. ^ "Kuwait oil refinery hit again as Iran targets Gulf energy infrastructure". Al Jazeera. 20 March 2026. Archived from the original on 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Gulf states again under fire as Iran says still building missiles". South China Morning Post. 2026-03-20. Archived from the original on 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
  30. ^ "Iran's Revolutionary Guards launch fresh attacks on US bases". Iran International. 2026-03-23. Archived from the original on 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  31. ^ "Drones strike fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing fire - CNN". Iran International. 2026-03-25. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
  32. ^ "Drone attacks target Kuwait airport, no injuries reported". Iran International. 2026-03-28. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  33. ^ "Air defenses activated across Persian Gulf as Iran launches fresh attacks". Iran International. 2026-03-29. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  34. ^ "Kuwait says 10 soldiers wounded in missile, drone attacks". Iran International. 2026-03-29. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  35. ^ "Kuwait National Guard intercepts five drones". Iran International. 2026-03-30. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  36. ^ a b "Iranian attack damages Kuwait power and desalination plant, kills worker". Al Jazeera English. 30 March 2026. Archived from the original on 5 April 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  37. ^ "Indian killed in Iranian strike on Kuwait power plant, toll rises to 8". India Today. 2026-03-30. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  38. ^ a b Madhav, Pramod (31 March 2026). "Tamil Nadu man dies in Kuwait after being struck by missile debris". India Today. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  39. ^ Huda Ata; Aghaddir Ali; Jay Hilotin; Lekshmy Pavithran (2026-03-31). "Kuwaiti tanker 'Al Salmi' attacked by Iran drone off Dubai coast". Gulf News. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  40. ^ Chris Lau; Ivana Kottasová; Olesya Dmitracova; Eugenia Yosef; Todd Symons; Ally Barnard; Brad Lendon; Jessie Yeung; Lex Harvey; Ivan Watson; Zulfaqar Samra; Teele Rebane; John Liu; Yoonjung Seo; Mitchell McCluskey; Mohammed Tawfeeq; Kristie Lu Stout; Adam Pourahmadi; Brian Stelter; Issy Ronald; Charlotte Reck; Leila Gharagozlou; Sana Noor Haq; Lauren Kent; Catherine Nicholls; Mustafa Qadri (2026-03-31). "Live updates: Kuwaiti tanker laden with oil attacked as Trump again threatens to blow up Iran's energy facilities". CNN. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  41. ^ "Kuwait reports Iranian attack at power, desalination plant". ARN News Centre. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  42. ^ "Drone attack triggers fires at Kuwait refinery". Iran International. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  43. ^ "Update from Johnatan Reiss". The New York Times. 2026-04-03. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
  44. ^ "Iranian drone strike damages US helicopter in Kuwait". Caliber.az. 3 April 2026.
  45. ^ "Iranian drone hits US Chinook helicopter at Kuwait base, aircraft damaged". 3 April 2026.
  46. ^ "Fire breaks out at Kuwait oil complex after drone attack". Iran International. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  47. ^ Borbon, Christian (2026-04-05). "Drone attack causes fires at Kuwait Petroleum facilities; no injuries reported". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 2026-04-05.
  48. ^ a b "Six injured after debris from Iranian attack falls in northern Kuwait". Iran International. 6 April 2026. Archived from the original on 22 April 2026. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  49. ^ "15 Americans injured in Iranian attack on Kuwaiti air base". CBS News. 6 April 2026. Archived from the original on 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026. An Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait overnight injured 15 Americans, two U.S. officials told CBS News.
  50. ^ "Kuwait says air defences dealing with a morning wave of Iranian drone attacks". 2026.
  51. ^ "UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain report attacks despite Iran-US ceasefire". Al Jazeera. 2026-04-08. Archived from the original on 2026-04-15. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  52. ^ Pager, Tyler (7 April 2026). "U.S., Iran and Israel Agree to Cease-Fire". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  53. ^ n.a. (2026-04-10). "Kuwait Condemns Iran-Linked Drone Attacks on Vital Facilities". arabtimes. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
  54. ^ Naar, Ismaeel (2026-05-12). "Kuwait Accuses Iran of Trying to Infiltrate Its Territory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  55. ^ Gambrell, Jon; Lidman, Melanie (2026-05-12). "Kuwait says Iran attacked an island where China is helping to build a port". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  56. ^ "Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Hit Iran-Backed Militias in Iraq". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  57. ^ "الصحة: حالة وفاة واحدة و32 إصابة على خلفية التطورات الراهنة في المنطقة" [Health Ministry: One death and 32 injuries reported due to current developments in the region]. Kuwait News. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  58. ^ "11-Year-Old Child Dies; Four Family Members Undergoing Medical Evaluation After Shrapnel Incident". Times Kuwait. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  59. ^ "Kuwait says two firefighters killed 'while performing duties'". Al Jazeera English. 8 March 2026.
  60. ^ "Kuwait Intercepts 26 Aerial Threats; 10 Soldiers Injured in Camp Strike". 29 March 2026.
  61. ^ "Six Arab Nations Issue Statement Condemning Attacks by Iran-aligned Iraqi Factions". Aawsat. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  62. ^ "Kuwait says 24 arrested over alleged Iran-linked terror financing plot". Iran International. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  63. ^ "Saudi Arabia condemns Iran's drone attacks on key facilities in Kuwait". Iran International. Archived from the original on 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  64. ^ "US urges contractor to evacuate workers over Iran-linked threats - Guardian". Iran International. 2026-04-20. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
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