Drone attack on Kuwait International Airport - 3 Sri Lankans also injured

Amidst the escalating regional military tensions between the United States and Iran, a severe drone and missile attack launched by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on Kuwait International Airport has resulted in 63 injuries and one fatality. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait has officially confirmed that three Sri Lankans, who were working as elevator repair technicians at the airport, are among the injured.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Kuwait, Mr. Lakshitha Ratnayake, stated that all three injured Sri Lankans sustained minor injuries and were immediately hospitalized for treatment. The Embassy is in constant contact with local authorities, inquiring about their well-being and working to provide all necessary facilities. Considering the prevailing risky situation, the Embassy has issued an urgent advisory to other Sri Lankans residing in Kuwait, urging them to pay close attention to the safety guidelines issued by the country's security forces and state institutions.

The attack caused severe damage to Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport, leading to structural collapses, fires, and smoke, creating a critical situation inside. Following the attack, Kuwaiti authorities temporarily suspended civil flights, but later partially resumed flight operations through other safe zones, including Terminal 4. The sole fatality from the attack has been identified as an Indian national, and the Indian Embassy in Kuwait has expressed its condolences and support, targeting the large Indian expatriate community in the country.

Brigadier General Saud Abdul Aziz Al-Otaibi, spokesperson for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense, stated that numerous hostile drones and missiles targeted the airport's civilian terminal. Although Kuwaiti and American air defense systems successfully destroyed 13 Iranian missiles and 17 drones, some attacks hit the airport, with debris falling into surrounding residential areas. Iran later stated that it did not directly target a civilian airport, but rather locations with American ties, including the Ali Al Salem Air Base where American forces are stationed.

This attack is considered a critical step in the broader Iranian conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Gulf regional countries. Iran had previously attacked fuel storage complexes in Kuwait, and with this latest attack, the State of Kuwait has proceeded to expel Iranian diplomats from its country. This aggressive act, targeting civilian infrastructure, has had a severe impact on air travel safety in the Gulf region and contributed to fluctuations in global oil prices.