Kuwait accuses Iran of 'extensive damage' to civilian facilities

Kuwait's Defense Ministry on Sunday accused Iran of missile and drone attacks that caused extensive damage to vital civilian infrastructure — including power and water facilities — as the Gulf state’s armed forces remained on high alert.

Civilian facilities hit

The strikes targeted a power and water desalination plant early Sunday, sparking fires and causing extensive damage to facilities linked to the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy. Defense Ministry spokesman Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan said the military had detected and intercepted ballistic missiles and drones in Kuwaiti airspace since dawn, stating that Iranian attacks "continued to target civilian and vital infrastructure, including facilities belonging to the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy." He added that the armed forces were taking all necessary measures "to protect Kuwait’s sovereignty, security and stability, as well as the safety of citizens and residents," though casualty figures were not provided.

Self-defense warning

The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the assault on the power plant, warning that the "repeated deliberate targeting of civilian and essential installations reflected a systematic aggressive approach." In a statement, the ministry called the attacks "a dangerous escalation and a serious threat to civilian safety," noting they violated international law, international humanitarian law, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. Kuwait holds Iran "fully legally and morally responsible" for the aggression and reserves the "full right to take all necessary measures to protect its security and defend its territory and vital facilities against any attack or threat under the right to self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter," according to the ministry.

Regional escalation

Tensions have surged across the region since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran in February, prompting Iranian retaliation against Gulf states hosting American military assets. Washington and Tehran reached a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding last month aimed at ending hostilities, but clashes reignited last week over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.