Kuwaiti PM Visits Damaged Airport Terminal After Attack

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah made an urgent visit to Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday to survey the extensive damage inflicted on Terminal 1 following a coordinated Iranian missile and drone attack.

According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), which shared images of the inspection on X, the Prime Minister toured the severely damaged passenger terminal shortly after the assault that left at least one person dead and more than 60 wounded.

The Attack

The strike occurred on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, when a wave of Iranian ballistic missiles and hostile drones targeted Kuwait International Airport. According to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence, the attack was carried out by "a number of hostile drones" resulting in "significant material damage to the building."

The Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority activated an emergency plan following the attack, which caused severe damage to several airport facilities. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that one fatality occurred and over 60 people sustained injuries during the incident.

Government Response

During his visit, Prime Minister Al Sabah was briefed on the casualties and the extent of the damage to airport infrastructure. Kuwait's Foreign Ministry subsequently issued a formal protest to Iran, handing an official note to Acting Chargé d'Affaires Hamid Hamid Yaqoubi Far.

The ministry announced Kuwait's decision to reduce the size of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Kuwait and reiterated the country's "strong condemnation of Iran's criminal attacks" and "categorical rejection of the use of its territory or airspace for hostile actions against any country."

Operations Resume

Despite the damage, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways received clearance to operate after technical safety assessments of undamaged facilities. The airlines began resuming flights from Terminal 4 following a comprehensive damage assessment by technical teams.

According to FlightGlobal, the Kuwaiti ministry confirmed that flights would continue from alternative terminals while restoration measures were implemented at Terminal 1.

Regional Context

This attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with reporting from AP News indicating the incident occurred as part of back-and-forth attacks by Iran and the U.S. that are testing a fragile ceasefire in the broader Middle East conflict.

Kuwait Petroleum Company's managing director for international marketing, Sheikh Khaled Ahmad Al-Sabah, indicated that Kuwait's oil production could recover to nearly 70% of normal levels within 6-8 weeks after the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

Security and emergency teams continue working to restore normal airport operations while authorities assess the full impact of the strike.