Indian killed in Iranian drone, missile strikes on Kuwait airport amid Gulf tension

An Indian national was killed in an Iranian missile and drone attack on Kuwait International Airport, the Indian Embassy confirmed, while at least 63 others were injured as escalating Gulf hostilities led to temporary flight disruptions and renewed tensions across the region.

In Short

• At least 63 injured, airport flights temporarily suspended
• Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain
• US and Gulf states intercepted several missiles and drones

An Indian national was killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait International Airport, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait confirmed on Wednesday.

The attack came as Gulf hostilities escalated again, with Iran launching missile and drone strikes on targets in Kuwait and Bahrain, while the United States carried out military operations near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Kuwait's Health Ministry, at least 63 people were injured in the attack, including airport workers and passengers. Kuwaiti authorities said an Iranian drone and missile strike damaged airport facilities and diplomatic missions, killing one person and injuring several others. Following the attack, flights at Kuwait International Airport were temporarily suspended.

INDIA CONDEMNS KUWAIT AIRPORT ATTACK

India condemned the attack on Kuwait International Airport. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said New Delhi has consistently maintained that civilians and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted during conflicts and called on all sides to halt such attacks.

"We condemn the attack on the Kuwait International Airport today in which an Indian national has died and several of our nationals are injured. Since the onset of the conflict in West Asia, we have strongly urged that the civilian population and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted. We again call upon parties to cease such attacks," the MEA said.

The ministry expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait was providing assistance to those injured. It also said Indian missions across the region remain on alert and are continuing to support the Indian community amid the ongoing crisis.

The civil aviation authority later announced that Kuwait Airways was resuming operations from Terminal 4 after assessing the damage and implementing safety measures.

GULF ATTACKS SHAKE FRAGILE TRUCE

The latest violence has further strained a fragile ceasefire agreed to in early April. Oil prices rose more than 2% as uncertainty persisted around the Strait of Hormuz, which had handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict disrupted traffic through the strategic waterway.

Bahrain's army said it intercepted three missiles and several drones after Iran claimed it had targeted the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, along with an airbase and helicopters in another regional state.

The US military said two Iranian missiles aimed at Kuwait either fell short or broke apart in flight, while several other ballistic missiles failed to hit their intended targets.

Since the conflict began on February 28, Iran has repeatedly launched attacks against civilian and military targets in Gulf countries hosting US military bases. Hostilities have continued intermittently despite the ceasefire, as Washington has sought to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, Iran and the US indicated progress toward a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the war and reopening the strait, but both sides have yet to finalise a deal.

Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaei warned that Tehran would not allow the US to "overreach" in ceasefire arrangements or negotiations. In a post on X, he said any aggression would be met with a barrage of missiles and drones. UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash condemned the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, calling for a unified Gulf response and saying the aggression targeted the entire region.

The US military said it had intercepted drones targeting civilian vessels and American forces in Kuwait. It also confirmed strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz after what it described as attempted Iranian attacks.

Iranian media reported that the Revolutionary Guards' navy targeted a vessel identified as the Panaya with missiles in response to an alleged US attack on an Iranian tanker near Hormuz. Iranian state media quoted the Guards as warning that disrupting security in the Strait of Hormuz would carry a heavy price for the US military.

Amid the escalating conflict, uncertainty remains over ongoing diplomatic efforts. Iranian media reported that Tehran had not been in contact with Washington for several days, although US President Donald Trump said negotiations were continuing.

In a podcast interview released on Wednesday, Trump said Iran had agreed not to pursue a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was involved in the negotiations. Iran continues to deny that it is developing a nuclear bomb, maintaining that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes.

As part of any potential agreement, Tehran is seeking an end to fighting in Lebanon, access to billions of dollars in oil revenues, waivers on crude exports, the lifting of a US blockade on its ports and continued leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.

The war has killed thousands, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, while causing major disruption to global energy supplies and shipping. The conflict has also intensified tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Lebanese security sources said Israel continued strikes on several southern Lebanese towns on Tuesday despite a US-mediated partial ceasefire announced a day earlier. On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a hostile aircraft that crossed into northern Israel.

- Ends