Kuwait City, 4 June 2026 — An Iranian drone struck Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday morning, killing one person and injuring at least 63 others in a serious escalation of the ongoing Iran-US conflict that has tested a fragile ceasefire.
According to Kuwait’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, several hostile drones targeted the passenger terminal, causing significant structural damage, fires, and thick black smoke. The victim was identified as an Indian national. Many of the injured were passengers and airport staff, with some requiring urgent surgery. Kuwaiti authorities described the attack as deliberate aggression against civilian infrastructure.
The strike occurred amid retaliatory exchanges. Iran claimed it was targeting US military bases in Kuwait, such as Ali Al Salem Air Base, in response to recent US strikes on Iranian facilities on Qeshm Island and an oil tanker. However, the drone veered off course and hit the civilian airport instead. US Central Command denied Iranian claims of successful hits on its bases and condemned the airport attack as unjustified.
Kuwait immediately suspended all flights, diverting incoming aircraft and activating emergency services. Thick smoke billowed from the terminal as firefighters battled blazes. Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority later released CCTV footage showing the dramatic moment of impact and the ensuing chaos. The airport partially reopened later in the day, with Kuwait Airways resuming operations from unaffected terminals, though full services remained limited.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the incident as a “criminal aggression” and a violation of international law. It announced the expulsion of Iranian diplomats and reserved the right to respond. India also expressed outrage over the death of its citizen.
This marks the second major drone incident at the airport this year. In March 2026, drones damaged a fuel tank and radar system without causing casualties. Wednesday’s attack has heightened fears across the Gulf, where countries like Bahrain also reported Iranian strikes.
The incident underscores the growing risk of wider regional spillover. The April ceasefire between Iran and the US, linked to nuclear negotiations, appears increasingly strained amid tit-for-tat strikes. Analysts warn that continued attacks on civilian targets could derail diplomatic efforts and destabilise global oil supplies, given Kuwait’s strategic importance.
Kuwaiti officials have urged restraint from all parties to prevent further civilian harm. As investigations continue, the airport attack serves as a stark reminder of how proxy tensions can rapidly turn into direct threats to innocent lives and critical infrastructure. (Word count: 452)