Kuwait city: Kuwaiti authorities on Wednesday said they are responding to a fire at a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport after it was targeted by 'hostile drones.'
According to Anadolu Agency, a Fire Force spokesperson stated that firefighting teams, supported by the army, National Guard, and oil sector units, are working to contain the blaze. Emergency teams are also addressing four separate fires at different locations caused by falling debris.
A Defense Ministry spokesperson reported that air defenses detected 20 ballistic missiles and nine hostile drones over the past 24 hours, with no casualties reported. Out of these, 13 missiles and six drones were destroyed, while two drones struck the airport fuel tank, igniting the fire that is being contained. Additionally, a National Guard unit destroyed one drone and five additional unmanned aircraft within its operational areas.
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry announced that it has summoned Iran's ambassador, Mohamad Toutonji, for the third time since the onset of Iranian attacks on February 28, delivering a formal protest note over the continued strikes. The ministry's statement highlighted that the targeting of fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport is a 'grave violation' of international humanitarian law, noting that the airport is a civilian facility.
The ministry condemned the attack as 'a blatant violation' of Kuwait's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and airspace, as well as a breach of international law, the UN Charter, and principles of good neighborliness. It called for an immediate halt to the attacks and held Iran fully responsible for their consequences, reaffirming Kuwait's right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Earlier, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that drones targeted a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire at the site. Initial reports indicated only material damage from the attack.
Regional tensions have continued to escalate since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, leading to casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.