Middle East Tension: Ceasefire in jeopardy after deadly Iranian strike on Kuwait airport

An Iranian drone strike hit a passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday, killing an Indian citizen and injuring 63 others. The attack came as tensions increased between Iran and the United States in the Gulf region.

Kuwait’s military described the strike as a “criminal act of aggression” by Iran. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they were reacting to US attacks on a tanker and a communications tower on Iran’s Qeshm Island.

The incident is one of the biggest challenges to the ceasefire agreed on April 8, which ended more than a month of fighting that began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Although the truce has mostly held, occasional attacks have continued.

India confirmed that one of its citizens was killed in the airport attack, while several others were injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of escalating the situation. He warned that US President Donald Trump had already made it clear that military action could resume if necessary.

According to Kuwait’s Health Ministry, 63 people received treatment for injuries, including head wounds, amputations, brain injuries, and injuries caused by explosions.

Following the attack, Kuwait temporarily suspended flights and redirected incoming aircraft to other airports. Flight operations later resumed.

Kuwait said it detected 30 ballistic missiles and drones launched during what it called a “heinous Iranian aggression.” The country also rejected Iranian claims that its territory had been used to launch attacks against Iran.

Residents near the airport reported hearing explosions throughout the night, raising fears among families.

Bahrain also reported overnight drone attacks from Iran, while the United Arab Emirates called for a united Gulf response against Tehran.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts military helicopters, rather than the civilian airport.

Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that any future attacks on Iran would receive a strong and proportional response.

Lebanon Conflict Continues

The escalation came as US, Israeli, and Lebanese officials met in Washington to discuss ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group operating in Lebanon.

The US proposed a limited ceasefire that would initially stop Israeli strikes on Beirut and Hezbollah attacks on Israeli territory.

However, neither side has accepted the proposal. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati said the group would not agree to a partial ceasefire.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Lebanon talks should remain separate from negotiations involving Iran, although Tehran continues to link the two conflicts.

Israeli forces are currently carrying out their deepest military operation inside Lebanon in about 20 years.

Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, including two paramedics. Another strike reportedly targeted a vehicle near Beirut.

Hezbollah said it launched rockets at Israeli troops in northern Israel in response to what it called Israeli violations of an earlier ceasefire agreement.

A truce intended to stop fighting in Lebanon was supposed to begin on April 17 but has not been fully implemented.

Israeli officials have warned they could strike Beirut’s southern suburbs if Hezbollah continues attacks on northern Israeli communities. Netanyahu said Trump supports efforts to disarm Hezbollah, saying it would help stabilize Lebanon.