Ali Al Salem under attack: Kuwait intercepts Iranian missiles targeting US base
Kuwait: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that its air defence forces successfully intercepted a barrage of ballistic missiles aimed at a strategic air base housing American and coalition personnel.
The attack on the Ali Al Salem Air Base occurred as part of a wider wave of retaliatory strikes launched by Iran against U.S. military assets across the Persian Gulf, following joint U.S.-Israeli operations within Iranian territory earlier that morning.
"Ali Al Salem Air Base was targeted by a number of ballistic missiles. This morning, the Kuwaiti Air Defence Force successfully intercepted them," said Ministry of Defence spokesperson Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan.
Damage to Infrastructure
While Kuwaiti officials emphasised the success of their interception efforts, international reports indicated that the assault was not without consequence. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that the base, which also hosts approximately 300 Italian service members, suffered "significant damage" to its runway.
Tajani noted that all Italian personnel were unharmed after taking cover in reinforced bunkers. Kuwaiti authorities have also reported that the National Guard’s chemical defence units found no increase in radiation levels following the interceptions, suggesting the threats were conventional in nature.
Regional Contagion
The strikes on Ali Al Salem, often referred to as "The Rock," were part of a coordinated Iranian response that also targeted:
- Qatar: Al Udeid Air Base.
- UAE: Al Dhafra Air Base.
- Bahrain: The headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.
The Kuwaiti General Staff reaffirmed its commitment to defending the nation's sovereignty and warned residents to avoid any fallen missile debris. The escalation follows the breakdown of nuclear negotiations and the commencement of what U.S. President Donald Trump has termed "major combat operations" against the Iranian regime.
With inputs from AFP