Kuwait intercepts missiles and drones amid Gulf tensions

Kuwait on Wednesday said that its air defence systems had intercepted incoming missiles and drones after loud explosions were heard in several parts of the country amid rising tensions in the Gulf. In a statement, the Kuwaiti Army's General Staff said the sounds reported by residents were linked to operations carried out by air defence units while dealing with hostile aerial targets. "Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks. The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks," it said. The military later cautioned the public against approaching any debris, shrapnel or unidentified objects that may have fallen following the interceptions, saying such materials could be hazardous. Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities. Defence ministry spokesperson Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi urged citizens and residents to immediately notify authorities through the 112 emergency hotline if they came across suspicious objects. He also appealed to the public to rely only on official information channels and comply with safety directives. "The General Staff of the Army calls on everyone to cooperate and adhere to the issued guidelines to preserve the security and safety of all," the statement said. Separately, Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB claimed that US military installations in Kuwait had been targeted in retaliation for what it described as American "hostile actions" in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island. However, the claim could not be independently verified. "Following the hostile actions of the U.S. in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and Qeshm Island, American bases in Kuwait were hit." it said. The incident comes against the backdrop of growing regional tensions following recent military confrontations involving the United States and Iran.