An Iranian drone strike on Kuwait's airport passenger terminal killed one Indian national and injured 63 others on Wednesday. Tehran and Washington traded blows across the volatile Gulf region.
Kuwait's military branded the attack "criminal Iranian aggression." Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired back, claiming US forces provoked them by targeting a tanker and communications installation on Qeshm Island.
It marked a serious test of an April 8 ceasefire agreement. The truce had largely held since a month-long conflict erupted following US-Israeli bombing campaigns against Iran.
India's foreign ministry confirmed the death toll and additional wounded among its citizens. Other injured nationals required immediate medical attention.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel condemned Iran's actions sharply. "Iran surely knows what the president has said—if necessary, there'll be a full-scale return to military action," Netanyahu told CNBC, referencing Donald Trump's warnings.
Kuwait's health ministry spokesman Abdullah al-Sanad detailed the injuries sustained. Victims suffered head wounds, cerebral haemorrhages, amputations, and blast-related trauma, he said.
Flight operations halted immediately following the strike. Kuwait Airways eventually resumed service after incoming aircraft were diverted elsewhere.
This airport had endured multiple strikes during the broader conflict. Full operations had only resumed on Monday before Wednesday's attack.
Kuwaiti authorities detected 30 ballistic missiles and drones launched that day. They rejected Iranian claims about using Kuwaiti territory for counterattacks.
Hassan Sheikh, a 40-year-old Pakistani living near the airport, described the terrifying night. "For the first time, my children felt how serious the situation was," he told reporters.
Bahrain also reported overnight drone attacks from Iranian forces. Abu Dhabi called for unified Gulf opposition to Tehran's actions.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards stopped short of claiming the civilian airport strike. However, they announced targeting Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait instead, citing its helicopter operations.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief US negotiator, issued a stern warning. Any "aggression will be met with a decisive, regrettable, and proportionate response," he noted.
The threat arrived one day before Iran's commemoration of former supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini's death. Current leader Ali Khamenei was killed in recent US-Israeli strikes.
Mojtaba, Khamenei's son and successor, is expected to release a statement. The announcement will mark the religious significance of the occasion.
American military officials said they "successfully defeated" Iranian missile and drone attacks on both nations. They confirmed conducting their own strikes on Qeshm Island.
Bahrain's authorities intercepted three Iranian missiles and multiple drones, officials reported. Defense systems proved effective against the barrage.
Earlier this week, US, Israeli, and Lebanese officials gathered in Washington. They discussed ending the parallel Israel-Hezbollah conflict that began on March 2.
