Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that three land border posts in the north of the country and an offshore oil drilling platform were struck in drone attacks, part of a sweeping wave of strikes across the Gulf as the U.S.-Iran conflict escalated to one of its broadest points since fighting began.
What Was Hit
According to a statement from Kuwait's Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan, three land border posts in the north of the country were targeted in what the ministry described as a "cowardly attack" and separately as a "hostile, criminal attack," resulting in material damage. The ministry did not specify who was responsible for the assault. Separately, an offshore drilling platform operated by the Kuwait Oil Company in Kuwaiti territorial waters was struck by a hostile drone, causing material damage and injuring one worker, who is receiving medical treatment. Kuwait's General Staff said the country's armed forces remain on full readiness and are taking "all necessary measures and precautions to maintain the security of the country and the safety of its territories."
Part of a Broad Regional Escalation
The attacks on Kuwait came as part of a wider barrage that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched against several Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets, using loitering drones to target sites including a Patriot air defense system. Beyond Kuwait, Bahrain's interior ministry activated air raid sirens, Qatar reported at least three injuries — including a child — from drone interceptions, and Jordan said missiles had landed on its territory, though officials there reported no casualties and only limited damage. The UAE said it detected threats but that no missiles actually reached the country. CNN reported it was unable to independently verify all of Iran's specific claims about targeting U.S. military sites and had sought comment from U.S. Central Command.
What Triggered This Round
The latest wave of strikes followed an Iranian attack on the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy, which reportedly left the vessel disabled by fire and one civilian crew member missing. U.S. Central Command said that attack prompted its own retaliatory strikes on Iran — the second consecutive night of U.S. strikes — with CENTCOM confirming no American service members were hurt. Iranian state media reported the country then launched its own counter-strikes on U.S. military sites across the Gulf early Sunday in response.
Regional Condemnation
The scale of the attacks — reaching Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, and Oman — drew swift condemnation from across the Arab world. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks "a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the countries concerned" and reaffirmed "full solidarity" with the affected nations. Qatar's foreign ministry said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms the renewed attacks," while the Arab Parliament's Speaker, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, described the strikes as a violation of international law and the UN Charter, warning they could "further increase tensions in the region and undermine efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability." The Arab Parliament called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action.
International Calls to De-Escalate
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both the United States and Iran to halt the renewed fighting and return to talks, with his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stating plainly, "These attacks must stop." Pakistan, which has played a role in mediating peace talks between Washington and Tehran, said it was "following with deep concern the recent incidents that are further escalating the regional tensions."
Strait of Hormuz Status Still Disputed
Amid the broader fighting, Washington and Tehran continued making contradictory claims about the status of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump insisted in an interview that the strait remains open, while Iran maintains it has clamped down on marine traffic through the waterway. Ship-tracking data showed traffic reduced to a trickle over the weekend, reflecting a de facto disruption regardless of the two sides' competing legal claims.
Market Impact
The escalation pushed oil prices higher again, with Brent crude rising 3.92% to $78.99 a barrel Sunday and U.S. crude climbing 3.44% to $73.87 a barrel, as traders priced in the growing risk of a sustained disruption to Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping.
What's Next
With strikes now reaching six Gulf states and international calls for de-escalation so far going unheeded, the conflict shows little sign of a near-term resolution. Kuwait's armed forces said they remain on full readiness, and regional governments continue to press for international intervention even as both Washington and Tehran maintain sharply conflicting narratives about the current state of the Strait of Hormuz and the broader conflict.