Iran Claims US Missile Hit Kuwait Airport, Denies Own Involvement

The missile that smashed into Kuwait International Airport's Terminal 1 on Wednesday was not fired by Iran, but was a US patriot missile launched to defend Washington's regional military base from attack, Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) has claimed.

The missile exchange followed an American attack on a tanker en route to Kharg Island but which Washington said was violating its unilaterally imposed blockade against the Islamic Republic.

“Our investigation and research into the Kuwaiti passenger terminal attack shows that the IRGC’s air force did not fire at this target, and the destruction of the Kuwaiti airport passenger terminal was caused by an error in the American Patriot systems, which landed on this terminal after failing to intercept Iranian missiles,” an IRGC spokesman announced on Wednesday.

However, footage later released by Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation appears to dispute this claim.

At least one person died as a missile struck the terminal and other “vital facilities,” according to Kuwait's foreign ministry, including diplomatic missions. Several people were also injured in the attacks, it added, without specifying the number.

A video obtained by RT purports to show the aftermath of the strike. A short clip appears to show the inside of a terminal building filled with smoke and dust. Pieces of debris can be seen lying on the floor with several fires visible, including on the roof.

The Foreign Ministry did not comment on the extent of the damage inflicted on the airport. It condemned what it called Iran’s “aggressive attacks” and blamed it for “increased escalation” and “heightened tension” in the Middle East. It also warned that Kuwait “reserves its full and inherent right” to respond.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) stated that it launched strikes on US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, including the US Fifth Fleet HQ, in response to attacks on its telecom tower on Qeshm Island. The US Department of War claimed that all Iranian missiles failed to hit their targets.

The escalation comes almost 100 days into the conflict and nearly two months after the US and Iran reached a fragile ceasefire after over a month of active hostilities. Tehran halted negotiations with Washington earlier this week over the ongoing Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

Iran also restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint, after the US-Israeli attack in February, while Washington began a naval blockade of Iranian ports.