Flights suspended, power and desalination plants hit as Iran launches missiles at Kuwait
Kuwait City, July 18
Kuwait was subjected to a barrage of Iranian missile strikes on Saturday as hostilities between the United States and Iran escalated sharply, forcing an immediate halt to all aviation operations and damaging critical elements of the Gulf nation's power grid and water desalination infrastructure.
Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Kuwait from the early hours of Saturday morning, prompting authorities to warn residents to seek shelter and remain indoors as inbound missiles launched from Iran breached Kuwaiti airspace.
Detailing the offensive, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its forces had targeted the Arifjan Ground Forces Support Centre in Kuwait, claiming that the strike had killed several US troops stationed at the facility as part of the 18th wave of its "Operation Nasr 2."
Additionally, the IRGC claimed to have executed a targeted drone strike that successfully neutralised the radar installation at the US Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.
Further escalating the maritime and communication front, Iranian state media reported assertions by the IRGC Navy that its units had deployed drones and missiles against the US Navy's fuel support pier located at Kuwait's Al Ahmadi Port.
The IRGC further claimed to have struck and dismantled a US signalling and communications hub within the country.
The kinetic strikes caused immediate disruption to international travel, with Al Jazeera reporting that Kuwait Airways has suspended all flight operations at Kuwait International Airport following the total closure of the national airspace by state authorities.
The flag carrier confirmed that both inbound and outbound flights at the country's primary aviation hub were frozen due to the rapid deterioration of regional security.
This operational halt followed an earlier announcement by Kuwait Airways regarding comprehensive flight rescheduling implemented as a safeguard against the evolving threat environment.
Simultaneously, the strikes dealt a direct blow to the domestic utility network. According to Al Jazeera, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed that a fire broke out in one of the components of a power and water desalination plant in the wake of the latest Iranian bombardments.
"This necessitated precautionary operational measures, consisting of disconnecting a number of generating units to preserve the safety of the plant and its workers and to ensure the stability of the electrical grid," the ministry said in a statement.
To mitigate the impact of the infrastructure damage and prevent widespread outages, the utility administration deployed its emergency protocols across the network.
"The Ministry confirms that all operational and emergency plans were activated immediately upon the occurrence of the incident, ensuring the continuity and stability of both the electricity and water networks and limiting any potential impact on service, with technical and operational monitoring continuing around the clock," the ministry added in the statement.
— ANI
Reader Comments
War always punishes the common man. Kuwaiti civilians didn't choose this, but they're paying for it with their safety and basic utilities. I hope diplomacy can pull us back from the brink before more countries get dragged in. So much for peace in the region.
The IRGC's claims of killing US troops and taking out radar installations will definitely provoke a serious response. But from a strategic point of view, attacking critical infrastructure like power and water plants crosses a red line—it's not just military anymore, it's collective punishment of civilians. I hope the international community condemns this firmly.
Flights suspended, power plants burning, and now water supply threatened? This is a nightmare for ordinary Kuwaitis. My cousin lives there and says people are panic-buying essentials. India needs to issue an immediate advisory for our citizens to stay indoors and contact the embassy. The stability of the entire Gulf is at stake.
One-sided reporting as usual. Why is there no mention of what provoked Iran to retaliate? The US has been aggressively militaryposturing in the region for months. That said, no justification for targeting civilian infrastructure. Everyone loses in these escalations. 🤦♂️
This is so distressing. The desalination plant damage could cause a water crisis in days. Kuwait is already one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. I hope Indian embassies are coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities to keep our people safe and informed. Stay strong, everyone. 🕊️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.