Airport attack triggers diplomatic crisis: Kuwait orders Iranian officials to leave within 24 hours

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has initiated severe diplomatic and retaliatory measures against Iran following a direct attack on its main international airport, ordering all Iranian diplomats to leave the country within twenty-four hours. The decisive move underscores the rapidly escalating tensions in the region. Meanwhile, operations at Kuwait International Airport, which were temporarily suspended following the strike, have partially resumed. Kuwait Airways confirmed that the airport is expected to become fully operational in the coming hours, with flight schedules gradually returning to normal. Authorities added that passengers would be notified directly regarding updated flight timings.

The conflict intensified when an Iranian drone strike targeted Terminal 1, the primary passenger hub at Kuwait International Airport. According to Brigadier General Saud Abdul Aziz Al-Otaibi, the official spokesperson for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence, the terminal building sustained significant structural damage. The attack resulted in several injuries and claimed the life of an Indian national.

This confrontation follows a sequence of military exchanges in the region, beginning with a recent United States military strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Tehran claimed responsibility for launching strikes against American military bases located in Kuwait and Bahrain. While Washington swiftly dismissed Iran's claims, stating that its air defence systems successfully intercepted the incoming ballistic missiles, the subsequent drone strike on Kuwait's civilian infrastructure has pushed diplomatic relations between the neighbouring nations to a critical breaking point.