Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that damage to Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 1 was caused by a malfunctioning American Patriot missile system rather than a direct Iranian strike, following a fresh escalation between the United States and Iran in the Gulf region.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during an exchange of missile attacks between Washington and Tehran, triggered by what Iranian officials described as an American strike on a tanker bound for Kharg Island and subsequent US military action on Qeshm Island. The US military characterized the operations as “self-defense strikes.”
In a statement released Wednesday, an IRGC spokesperson denied targeting Kuwait’s civilian airport infrastructure and alleged that the destruction was the result of a failed US interception attempt.
“Our investigation and research into the Kuwaiti passenger terminal attack shows that the IRGC’s air force did not fire at this target, and the destruction of the Kuwaiti airport passenger terminal was caused by an error in the American Patriot systems,” the spokesperson said.
According to Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry, at least one person was killed, and several others were injured after a missile struck Terminal 1 and other “vital facilities,” including areas near diplomatic missions. Authorities have not disclosed the full extent of the damage.
Footage circulating online and reportedly obtained by the Russian outlet RT showed scenes of destruction inside the terminal, including smoke-filled corridors, scattered debris, multiple fires, and visible damage to sections of the roof.
However, a video later released by Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation appeared to challenge Iran’s version of events, though officials did not publicly elaborate on the exact cause of the explosion.
Kuwaiti authorities strongly condemned the incident, accusing Iran of carrying out “aggressive attacks” and warning that the escalation had increased tensions across the Middle East.
“Kuwait reserves its full and inherent right” to respond, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the IRGC announced it had launched missile strikes targeting US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, describing the attacks as retaliation for strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including a telecom tower on Qeshm Island.
The US Department of Defense, however, stated that all Iranian missiles aimed at American facilities were successfully intercepted or failed to reach their intended targets.
The latest flare-up marks nearly 100 days since the conflict intensified and comes less than two months after Washington and Tehran agreed to a fragile ceasefire following weeks of hostilities.
Tensions have continued to rise in recent days after Tehran suspended peace talks with Washington over the ongoing Israeli military strike in Lebanon. Iran has also tightened restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial global energy chokepoint — while the US has reportedly expanded naval operations near Iranian ports.
With conflicting narratives emerging about the Kuwait airport incident, independent verification of the cause of the destruction at Terminal 1 remains unavailable.