Kuwait airport struck as US-Iran conflict enters 96th day amid diplomatic stalemate

Iranian drones and missiles struck Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday morning, causing severe damage to Terminal 1 and forcing the suspension of flight operations. The attack, confirmed by Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, resulted in injuries and the diversion of flights to alternative locations, underscoring the vulnerability of regional infrastructure as hostilities between the United States and Iran enter their 96th day.

In response to the broader escalation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had conducted “self-defence” strikes against an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island. The command reported that Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Kuwait had either fallen short or broken apart, while three missiles aimed at Bahrain were intercepted by joint US and Bahraini air defence forces. CENTCOM further stated that an additional wave of Iranian drones targeting US forces in Kuwait failed to impact their intended targets, with several drones shot down.

The incident highlights the fragility of the ceasefire that has nominally been in place since 8 April. While US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social claiming that ceasefire talks with Tehran are continuous, Iranian media reports indicate that no communication has occurred between the two capitals for several days. The IRGC claimed it had struck US military installations in Bahrain in retaliation for the Qeshm strike, a claim CENTCOM dismissed as false, asserting that all Iranian attacks on American forces had failed.

Maritime security in the region remains critically compromised, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to traffic since late February. US forces have forcibly halted six ships attempting to violate the blockade of Iranian ports, with one vessel disabled by a missile strike. The blockade has persisted despite tentative agreements discussed last week, and no permanent deal has been signed to end the conflict.

Tensions are further exacerbated by intensifying Israeli military incursions into southern Lebanon, which have killed five people, including a child, and wounded 48. Attacks on the Tebnine Governmental Hospital damaged the facility and injured medical staff, raising fears that the violence in Lebanon could further derail any remaining prospects for a diplomatic resolution in the Gulf.