Iran denies Kuwait airport strike, blames Patriot system malfunction
Tehran rejects responsibility as US and Kuwait accuse Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure in missile and drone attack
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (MNTV) — Iran has denied carrying out a direct strike on Kuwait International Airport, instead alleging that damage from a deadly missile and drone attack was caused by a malfunction in a US-made Patriot air defense system, a claim swiftly rejected by both Washington and Kuwait.
The incident follows a large-scale assault on Kuwait involving missiles and drones that killed at least one person, injured dozens, and caused extensive damage to Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport, disrupting air traffic and key operations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its forces did not directly target the airport and insisted the operation was aimed at military objectives rather than civilian facilities.
Iranian state-linked accounts further claimed that the destruction at the airport resulted from a failed interception attempt by the US-supplied Patriot missile defense system.
The allegation immediately drew strong pushback from the United States military, which rejected Tehran’s explanation and accused Iran of deliberately striking civilian infrastructure in Kuwait.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the attack as a “deliberate, calculated and unjustified” operation involving drones and missiles launched toward civilian sites, contradicting Iran’s account of defensive-system failure.
US officials also said several Iranian projectiles malfunctioned mid-flight or were intercepted by regional air defense systems.
Kuwaiti authorities firmly blamed Iran for the strike, calling it a violation of national sovereignty and confirming that critical infrastructure, including the airport and diplomatic facilities, sustained damage. Officials reported widespread disruption, including temporary flight diversions and operational shutdowns following the attack.
In the aftermath, Kuwait released footage it says shows the moment of impact at the airport, depicting a drone strike triggering a fireball and structural collapse inside the terminal. The video quickly circulated online, intensifying scrutiny of the incident and competing narratives over responsibility.
Kuwaiti officials said a total of 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones were launched toward the country during the attack. The government has expelled two Iranian diplomats and reserved the right to respond.
The escalation marks one of the most serious flare-ups in the Gulf since a fragile US-Iran ceasefire announced in April.
The latest confrontation follows earlier US strikes on an Iran-linked tanker and retaliatory operations on Iranian military facilities on Qeshm Island, after which Tehran said its own actions were in response.
The competing claims underscore deepening mistrust between Iran and US-aligned Gulf states, with civilian infrastructure once again at the center of regional military escalation.
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