His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah briefed on defense plans and strategies.

KUWAIT CITY, March 1: In the aftermath of the heinous Iranian attacks on the country, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that it intercepted 97 Iranian ballistic missiles and 283 drones, which were dealt with according to the rules of engagement. Official spokesperson of the Defense Ministry Colonel Saud Al-Atwan said the Air Defense forces succeeded in intercepting and destroying several ballistic missiles and drones launched towards Kuwaiti territory since the beginning of the Iranian aggression. He stressed that the effective interception of the missiles and drones resulted in some debris falling on facilities in various parts of the country, causing minor material damage.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the recent attacks resulted in 32 injuries, all are expats. Five were admitted for surgery to Adan Hospital, while one death was reported. Official spokesperson of the Health Ministry Dr. Abdullah Al- Sanad disclosed that 32 injured individuals were referred to the Emergency Department at Adan Hospital, indicating that 15 of these individuals were transferred to Jaber Hospital. He added that five were admitted to the Operating Room at Adan Hospital, and one death was announced later.

He affirmed the ongoing full preparations in all hospitals, along with the implementation of emergency plans and coordination with the relevant authorities. He urged the public to obtain information only from official sources and to remain calm, wishing everyone safety and speedy recovery for the injured. Moreover, the ministry disclosed that the function of outpatient clinics in all hospitals on Sunday was limited to dispensing medications. It said the scheduled non-emergency surgeries were postponed, asserting that appointments will be rescheduled later and patients will be notified about their new appointments through the approved channels to organize workflow and ensure the safety of everyone.

The ministry confirmed that emergency surgeries continue without any changes, while the emergency departments and clinics operate round the clock, fully prepared to handle emergency cases and provide the necessary services without interruption.It added that primary healthcare centers are operating as usual, stating that around 30 percent of these centers operate 24 hours a day to meet the patients’ needs. In other news, the ministry said 34 primary healthcare centers (clinics) in the six governorates are operating 24 hours a day to support healthcare preparedness efforts and ensure the continuity of the provision of services. The ministry announced that six of these centers are in the Capital Governorate, four in Hawally Governorate, six in Farwaniya Governorate, seven in Jahra Governorate, six in Ahmadi Governorate and five in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate.

By Munif Naif, Marwa Al-Bahrawi and Fares Ghaleb
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies